Force crackdown on knife crime

The campaign aims further to reduce knife crime

Persistent offenders will be visited by Northumbria Police officers during a campaign to tackle knife crime.

Chief Constable Mike Craik has pledged to take tough action, even though knife crimes have dropped in the force area.

Officers will target known hotspots and anyone found carrying a knife without good reason will be charged.

There will also be a knife amnesty, visits to schools to warn of the dangers and retailers will be reminded of their responsibilities.

The campaign backs up the force's policy that anyone found carrying a knife will be charged, not cautioned, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Officers already routinely stop and search people suspected of carrying knives, but additional powers are being sought for areas identified as crime hotspots.

Serious knife crimes fell in the force area, with 284 from January to June, compared to 351 for the same period in 2007.

Mr Craik said: "We don't have the same problems with gang-related knife violence as some other parts of the country

"But I know that people are concerned about knife crime and our campaign will seek to respond to those concerns and reduce knife crime even further."

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