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Action plan targets knife crime Action plan targets knife crime
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
The Tackling Violence Action Plan will also include new measures to fight guns, gangs, binge drinking and rape.The Tackling Violence Action Plan will also include new measures to fight guns, gangs, binge drinking and rape.
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.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.
But the Tories said the move was an exercise in "papering over the cracks".But the Tories said the move was an exercise in "papering over the cracks".
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. Under the plans, those found carrying a knife are likely to be prosecuted and tougher sentences imposed for knife crime.
Sale of alcohol Police, probation and local authorities will be expected to identify and share information about people who are at risk of committing violent crimes.
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. Paedophile convictions
Police will be given 110 portable knife arches and 400 search wants 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.
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.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.
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 We are determined not to let violent offenders get away with wrecking lives by stopping them committing crimes in the first place Jacqui SmithHome Secretary
The action plan will aim to build on a recent drive to clamp down on the sale of alcohol to under-18s. The number of Sexual Assault Referral Centres for victims of sexual violence will be increased from 19 to 48 to cover every part of the country.
In the police force areas of Cleveland, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire and Warwickshire, a pilot scheme will allow parents to check whether people with unsupervised contact with their children have paedophile convictions.
The action plan will also 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.
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. 'Terrible suffering'
"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. Ms Smith said: "Every shooting or stabbing, every rape, every child sexually abused, every case of someone suffering domestic violence is one too many.
"Serious violent crime accounts for 1% of all crime, but where it does occur, it devastates lives, blights communities with fear and causes terrible suffering not just for victims but for their families and friends as well.
"We are determined not to let violent offenders get away with wrecking lives by stopping them committing crimes in the first place.
"That is why I am today pledging that by 2011, we will have reduced serious violent crime, including gun and gang-related violence, knife crime, sexual and domestic violence and improved the criminal justice response to these offences."
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
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'
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 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".
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.
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 Tory shadow home secretary David Davis said: "I welcome any practical measure to curb the appalling rise of knife crime.But Tory shadow home secretary David Davis said: "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."