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| Knife-carrying down in 'hotspots' | Knife-carrying down in 'hotspots' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The number of teenagers caught carrying knives has fallen in areas where police have specifically targeted knife crime, according to government figures. | The number of teenagers caught carrying knives has fallen in areas where police have specifically targeted knife crime, according to government figures. |
| Officers from 10 forces in England have searched 105,000 young people in the six months since the launch of a £2m Home Office campaign. | Officers from 10 forces in England have searched 105,000 young people in the six months since the launch of a £2m Home Office campaign. |
| In June, one in 30 was caught carrying a knife. By October, it was one in 65. | In June, one in 30 was caught carrying a knife. By October, it was one in 65. |
| The figures show serious injuries and deaths down 17%. In the UK in 2008, 34 teenagers have died from stab wounds. | The figures show serious injuries and deaths down 17%. In the UK in 2008, 34 teenagers have died from stab wounds. |
| Twenty-three of them died in London. | Twenty-three of them died in London. |
| Last month, the government's efforts to beat knife crime were criticised by Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee. | Last month, the government's efforts to beat knife crime were criticised by Labour MP Keith Vaz, who chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee. |
| Speaking at the start of a cross-party knife crime inquiry, Mr Vaz said the measures were "clearly not working" and called for "legitimate, appropriate political solutions". | Speaking at the start of a cross-party knife crime inquiry, Mr Vaz said the measures were "clearly not working" and called for "legitimate, appropriate political solutions". |
| Stop-and-search | Stop-and-search |
| However, the Home Office - which launched its Tackling Knives Action Programme in June - defended its work. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| It said more than 2,200 knives had been seized during targeted stop-and-search operations and that courts were getting tougher with offenders. | It said more than 2,200 knives had been seized during targeted stop-and-search operations and that courts were getting tougher with offenders. |
| The 10 force areas taking part in the programme account for more than 70% of serious violence involving a knife. | The 10 force areas taking part in the programme account for more than 70% of serious violence involving a knife. |
| They are London, Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley. | They are London, Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley. |
| Trading standards officers in those areas have begun carrying out sting operations to target traders who sell knives to under-18s. | Trading standards officers in those areas have begun carrying out sting operations to target traders who sell knives to under-18s. |
| The government is also providing an extra 85 metal detecting search arches and 566 "wands" to the forces for use in anti-knife operations. | The government is also providing an extra 85 metal detecting search arches and 566 "wands" to the forces for use in anti-knife operations. |