Cash boost to fight knife crime

The cash will fund sessions in schools with police officers and youth workers

Thames Valley Police has been given an extra £150,000 to help in the fight against knife crime.

It is one of 10 forces in England and Wales to be given extra support from the Home Office.

The cash will fund preventative work in collaboration with the New Destiny Trust in schools across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Some money has already been used for search arches and wands in nightclubs, schools and railway stations.

We intend to get across the message that knives will not be tolerated on our streets Detective Chief Constable Francis Habgood

Detective Chief Constable Francis Habgood said: "We are fortunate in the Thames Valley not to have seen huge numbers of knife-related incidents but should not be complacent.

"We intend to get across the message that knives will not be tolerated on our streets.

"It is important to do this face to face, particularly with those young people who are most likely to feel the need to carry a knife."

The New Destiny Trust sees schools hosting police officers and youth mentors for a day.

Pupils are shown a search arch and learn about police procedure around searching for weapons and take part in an interactive knife crime education session.

Heidi Watson, chief executive of the New Destiny Trust, said: "Our youth mentors are credible and experienced and are able to strike up a rapport with the pupils.

"We concentrate on educating young people about the dangers of carrying a knife and dissuading them from being swayed by fashion, peer pressure or the desire to intimidate others."