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Warning on new anti-knife powers Warning on new anti-knife powers
(about 7 hours later)
New laws to crack down on knife crime could cause increased hostility among young people, the Children's Commissioner for England has said.New laws to crack down on knife crime could cause increased hostility among young people, the Children's Commissioner for England has said.
Sir Al Aynsley-Green called for more research into the effects of increased police powers.Sir Al Aynsley-Green called for more research into the effects of increased police powers.
New measures are being used by police to search for knives using hand-held and walk-through metal detectors.New measures are being used by police to search for knives using hand-held and walk-through metal detectors.
The police say the powers are not aimed at victimising young people but are designed to keep them safe.The police say the powers are not aimed at victimising young people but are designed to keep them safe.
Sir Al said on BBC Breakfast: "There is a balance here. On the one hand for young people to feel safer by having the presence of the police - but on the other hand making sure the new powers don't create further antagonism by increased stopping and searching.Sir Al said on BBC Breakfast: "There is a balance here. On the one hand for young people to feel safer by having the presence of the police - but on the other hand making sure the new powers don't create further antagonism by increased stopping and searching.
"These are very contentious and I certainly support the case for much more research on the effects of these policies on them.""These are very contentious and I certainly support the case for much more research on the effects of these policies on them."
'Feel safer''Feel safer'
Sir Al said young people should be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.Sir Al said young people should be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Rose Fitzpatrick said: officers' work was intended to make young people feel safer, as well as actually being safer. Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Rose Fitzpatrick said officers' work was intended to make young people feel safer, as well as actually making them safer.
"The work we are doing in London in particular is working alongside communities to do robust stop-and-search operations using knife arches and search wands where intelligence tells us that there is the most likelihood that people are carrying knives and weapons," she said."The work we are doing in London in particular is working alongside communities to do robust stop-and-search operations using knife arches and search wands where intelligence tells us that there is the most likelihood that people are carrying knives and weapons," she said.
"That is not aimed at victimising young people; it's aimed at keeping them safe.""That is not aimed at victimising young people; it's aimed at keeping them safe."
Sir Al Aynsley-Green says a balance must be struckSir Al Aynsley-Green says a balance must be struck
Under the Metropolitan Police's plans announced this month, officers can search people without reasonable suspicion under Section 60 of the Public Order Act.Under the Metropolitan Police's plans announced this month, officers can search people without reasonable suspicion under Section 60 of the Public Order Act.
The move followed a rise in fatal knife attacks in London.The move followed a rise in fatal knife attacks in London.
The first team of 15 officers has already been deployed to an unidentified London borough.The first team of 15 officers has already been deployed to an unidentified London borough.
Another five to 10 teams will take to the capital over the next 10 days, and will target areas where intelligence suggests youths are more likely to carry weapons.Another five to 10 teams will take to the capital over the next 10 days, and will target areas where intelligence suggests youths are more likely to carry weapons.
Youth worker Nathan John said of young knife-carriers: "If they don't carry a knife they know someone else is. They can't be defenceless.Youth worker Nathan John said of young knife-carriers: "If they don't carry a knife they know someone else is. They can't be defenceless.
"I know that's a problem - but until we make them all realise they have to get rid of all their guns and knives we wont find a solution to this problem.""I know that's a problem - but until we make them all realise they have to get rid of all their guns and knives we wont find a solution to this problem."