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Government outlines knife crime measures

18/02/2008

Home secretary Jacqui Smith has outlined the measures being taken by the government to tackle knife crime in Manchester and the rest of Britain.

She told BBC One's The Politics Show that one of the most important things is to make sure that young people are taught about the dangers of knives.

Ms Smith also said she wants nobody to be under any "misapprehension" that they are safer if they carry a knife.

"We'll be investing in additional knife arches and wands to be used by police and others where they think that's appropriate so that people can feel confident in our public spaces," she told the programme.

She added: "I think we need to make sure that if you're caught with a blade, as an adult, that actually, you don't face a caution, but you face prosecution."

According to Greater Manchester Police, 52 pupils were found to be carrying knives in the region's schools - including primaries - during the past two years.