This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7249921.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Action plan targets violent crime Action plan targets knife crime
(about 8 hours later)
A new drive to tackle the most violent crime in England and Wales is to be announced later by the home secretary. Police are to get airport style metal detectors in a crackdown on knife crime in England and Wales being launched by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
Jacqui Smith will unveil a raft of new measures to fight guns, gangs and rape in the Tackling Violence Action Plan. The Tackling Violence Action Plan will also include new measures to fight guns, gangs, binge drinking and rape.
The strategies will include hundreds of metal detectors and search wands to combat the carrying of knives. It comes amid concern about alcohol fuelled trouble, as well as an increase in the use of knives, linked to 258 deaths in 2006-7 up from 219 in 2005-6.
Police, probation and local authorities will also be expected to identify and share information about people who are at risk of committing violent crimes. But the Tories said the move was an exercise in "papering over the cracks".
Increase in stabbings Under the plans, police, probation and local authorities will be expected to identify and share information about people who are at risk of committing violent crimes.
Sale of alcohol
Police will be given airport-style metal detectors that are understood to be small enough to fit in the back of a police car and be taken to pubs, clubs, schools or wherever they are needed.Police will be given airport-style metal detectors that are understood to be small enough to fit in the back of a police car and be taken to pubs, clubs, schools or wherever they are needed.
In conjunction with this, there will be a £1m awareness campaign that will seek to convince young people who carry a knife for safety, that it actually increases their risk of being a stabbing victim. There will also be a £1m awareness campaign that will seek to convince young people who carry a knife for safety, that it actually increases their risk of being a stabbing victim.
Knives were linked to 258 deaths in 2006-7 compared with 219 the previous year. We need to get in early, whether it's through education, or prevention, or making sure we identify violent people early as well Jacqui SmithHome Secretary
Ms Smith said the government was also taking a "very serious look" at the impact of low prices for alcohol.
We need to get in early, whether it's through education, or prevention, or making sure we identify violent people early as well Jacqui Smith
The action plan will aim to build on a recent drive to clamp down on the sale of alcohol to under-18s.The action plan will aim to build on a recent drive to clamp down on the sale of alcohol to under-18s.
The Home Office said that although just 1% of crime involves serious violence, alcohol is a factor in almost half of all violent incidents.The Home Office said that although just 1% of crime involves serious violence, alcohol is a factor in almost half of all violent incidents.
On Sunday Ms Smith told the BBC Politics Show the government had begun to take a "very serious look" at what the evidence is about the relationship between price and alcohol. Ms Smith told the BBC Politics Show the government had begun to take a "very serious look" at what the evidence is about the relationship between price and alcohol.
"There is not one single, simple solution to this, but we do need to look at the impact of price. There should be action taken about irresponsible promotions," she said."There is not one single, simple solution to this, but we do need to look at the impact of price. There should be action taken about irresponsible promotions," she said.
Another major plank in the strategy will be an expectation on police, probation and local authorities to identify and pool information about people considered at risk of offending.Another major plank in the strategy will be an expectation on police, probation and local authorities to identify and pool information about people considered at risk of offending.
Early intervention 'essential'Early intervention 'essential'
The initiative will extend a system already in place in about 100 areas aimed at tackling domestic violence.The initiative will extend a system already in place in about 100 areas aimed at tackling domestic violence.
The scheme involves police, probation, health and social services pooling information about individual victims to reduce the risk of them being attacked.
The arrangements are to be extended across England and Wales, and will focus on other types of violence and perpetrators as well as victims.The arrangements are to be extended across England and Wales, and will focus on other types of violence and perpetrators as well as victims.
In future, there will be an obligation on officials to pass on information about people who are involved, for example, in gangs, in order to intervene early.In future, there will be an obligation on officials to pass on information about people who are involved, for example, in gangs, in order to intervene early.
Ms Smith said she was "serious" about tackling violence "if it occurs on our streets or if it occurs behind closed doors".Ms Smith said she was "serious" about tackling violence "if it occurs on our streets or if it occurs behind closed doors".
The government has utterly failed to take the kind of decisive - and sustained - action needed to clamp down on knife crime Shadow home secretary David Davis The government has utterly failed to take the kind of decisive - and sustained - action needed to clamp down on knife crime David DavisShadow home secretary
"We need to get in early, whether it's through education, or prevention, or making sure we identify violent people early as well," she said."We need to get in early, whether it's through education, or prevention, or making sure we identify violent people early as well," she said.
The BBC's political correspondent, Guto Harri, said that despite violent crime making up a low proportion of recorded offences, the government has recognised it is the cause of greatest concern among the public.
Ms Smith has also announced trials of a scheme allowing parents to check whether people with unsupervised contact with their children have paedophile convictions.Ms Smith has also announced trials of a scheme allowing parents to check whether people with unsupervised contact with their children have paedophile convictions.
But the Conservatives said the action plan was simply "papering over the cracks". But Tory shadow home secretary David Davis said: "I welcome any practical measure to curb the appalling rise of knife crime.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said on Sunday: "I welcome any practical measure to curb the appalling rise of knife crime.
"But fatal stabbings have increased by over a quarter under Labour, and the government has utterly failed to take the kind of decisive - and sustained - action needed to clamp down on knife crime.""But fatal stabbings have increased by over a quarter under Labour, and the government has utterly failed to take the kind of decisive - and sustained - action needed to clamp down on knife crime."