http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4869290.stm
BBC NEWS
Knife scanners to be used UK-wide
The use of metal detectors to catch people carrying knives is to be extended by British Transport Police across the UK, the BBC has learned.
Operation Shield was launched in London two months ago to target people carrying knives on the Tube and train.
Police with stop-and-search powers and sniffer dogs use mobile airport-style scanners to check passengers.
Since it began, almost 10,000 people have been scanned, 100 have been arrested and 68 knives seized.
The initiative is already up and running in Liverpool. It is due to start in Birmingham this month and in the North East in May.
Home Office figures released in January showed violent crime in England and Wales rose 4% between July and September last year.
A national knife amnesty is due to come into force on 24 May and run for five weeks.
During a similar amnesty in 1995, 40,000 potentially lethal weapons were handed in.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/4869290.stm
Published: 2006/04/02 06:17:42 GMT
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