Crackdown on knives

Diigo

THE fight against knife attacks is stepping up a gear. Police have been targeting transport hubs using an airport-style metal detector. If the detector bleeps, officers search passengers to see if they are carrying a weapon.

At Stockwell Tube station last week 205 people were asked to walk through the arch. One blade was seized and five people were found with drugs. The blitz is part of Operation Shield - a task force targeting knife crime across the capital.

Speaking about the crack-down, British Transport Police Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Shananhan said: "We need to stop people carrying knives and this task force is a positive way of achieving our goal. "It won't be easy but these operations will make a difference.

"If people know they cannot carry a weapon without the fear of coming face-to-face with one of our officers they may think twice. "Young men are the worst offenders. "They are most likely to carry weapons and therefore use them.

"Some people say they carry a knife because they are afraid of street crime or have in the past been a victim.
"But that is no excuse at all. If you are carrying a knife you are probably breaking the law. "The simple message is don't do it."

In Britain, a knife crime is committed every 25 minutes and 80 per cent of attackers are aged between 12 and 20. In a recent MORI poll 29 per cent of secondary school pupils admitted carrying a blade.

DCI Shananhan added: "We pick up people for other things as well when we use the arch detector. "People who carry knives are often wanted by us for other crimes. "That could be drugs offences or even fare dodging on the transport network."

Diigo