AIRPORT-style metal detectors are to be installed at hundreds of schools in a new drive to curb the rise of youth knife crime.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce the details next month as the centrepiece of the Government's new violent crime action plan, according to reports.
The search arches will be introduced at the some of the country's toughest secondary schools in cities including Manchester.
Ministers were said to be particularly keen to encourage them in the worst affected cities - London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.
The plan was reported by The Observer to have the backing of senior police officers and head teachers who persuaded Ms Smith that the effectiveness of the detectors in tackling knife crime outweighed any concerns regarding pupil safety.
John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, told the paper: "There are schools serving areas where knife crime is high in the community and it's right that these schools take measures to protect pupils, but this is a very small number."
Diversionary
A Home Office spokesman said: "More detail will be available in the Tackling Violence Action Plan which the Home Secretary will publish in the next few weeks.
"We are continuing to tackle knife crime through responsive policing, and prevention projects which provide diversionary activities, training, peer mentoring and education projects."
Details of the plan emerged as it was disclosed that the number of under-18s convicted or cautioned for crimes of violence has increased by more than a third in just three years.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that the total rose from 17,590 in 2003 to 24,102 in 2006 - the last year for which figures are available - an increase of 37%.
The paper said that the figures were contained within Ministry of Justice reports relating to offenders aged 10 to 17 who were either convicted in court or issued with a police caution.
The overall total for all offences for the period rose from 184,474 to 222,750 - a 22% increase.
Despite the figures, the Home Office tonight insisted that there was no evidence that the numbers of violent crimes committed by young people were increasing.
"Violent crime has fallen 31% over the last 10 years," a spokesman said.
"There is no evidence that the number of violent crimes committed by young people is increasing. The rise in cautions and convictions represents better enforcement and an improved criminal justice response to violent crime.
"This is consistent with the broader picture of the number of offences brought to justice having increased by 43% over the last five years despite falls in recorded crime."
Ms Smith also confirmed that the Government was looking at whether alcohol was too cheap in the wake of the case of Gary Newlove who was killed by a group of teenagers who had been drinking.
"I think we need to look at whether or not both pricing and promotion is having an impact. That's work that's already under way, and of course we'll respond to what the conclusions of that are," she said.
What do you think of the idea? Have your say below.
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The government will do anything rather than implement real deterents in law.Lets have real laws that deter people from carrying knives and guns rather than just skirting around the problem.Metal detectors will only stop knives and guns being taken into schools it wont stop other ways of kids fighting outside.They will just move the problem outside the classroom.We need real control bringing back into our society.
Surely an admission that the Government's approach doesn't work? They openly perpetuate the society that favours breeding of today's dysfunctionals that are born "deserving" the sole financial support of the State, whether it is within a sound family unit or not. The only solution open to this regime is symptomatic treatment of the under-lying problem.
Everything about this government is to little to late.We want politicians and leaders who care what happens in britain not what our controllers in europe tell us to do. Scrap the Human right laws and then maybe we can start to heal our society by controlling our criminals and children who are totally out of control.
ace, how can anything be done when there are people like come-on-city insisting scums should be left unpunished? This country have plenty of laws, but they are ineffective when they are not applied and the law breakers punished.
Ace - how is a law going to stop people from carrying weapons? maybe more stop and search or these metal detectors in schools will do it! If thats the case its a good thing! Lets face it - kids think that laws are there to be broken. Maybe a better detterant like a stint in boot camp for offenders - with no get out clause that lets them run home to mummy!
This all started when corporal punishment was stopped and physical discipline in the home was discouraged. I've foresaw this 20-odd years ago and it's no coincidence. The 'super nanny' tactic is complete bull-plop. When my kids were growing up, if they answered back they got a 'clout'. If I said 'no' they knew I meant it. And I haven't 'warped' them! They love me to bits and they know I would do anything for them. This was instilled into me by my parents. My three sons are now respectable grown-ups: one is a teacher, one is studying English at uni and the other is studying Music. None of them have ever hung around in 'gangs': they associated with 'respectable' friends.
The trouble is, the downward spiral is in motion and I can't see how it can be stopped. The thugs have grown up and spawned their own thugs. How do we now educate them in the ways of bringing up children to show respect for society?
How can this be a bad idea? Id feel safer knowing that they are in place when the time comes for my son to start attending secondary school.
Instead of actually doing something to stop crime on the streets, the police yet again choose to just hang around a fixed place. Next time they will be setting up inside a takeaway shop.
deterrents and punishments for crimes committed by "children". If there was a REAL consequence to their actions, then there would be less crime
Uncle Buck, I agree totally, bring back a punishment these criminals will fear and allow parents to bring up their kids without the fear of prosecution if they so much as tap their children on the hands and also teachers should feel confident to deal with classroom disruption without the fear of losing their job or even imprisonment. Bring back sanity!
Sam 1986 - I know what you're getting at but surely it would be better not even having to worry about whether kids might be trying to bring weapons into school?
This recent trend is so despicable that there needs to be deterrent measures in place. Kids need to be under no illusion that they will be expelled and imprisoned if they try to bring a knife to school. Kids who bring blades to school are looking to use them, not defend themselves.
Anthony Burgess of Manchester wrote "Clockwork Orange" to represent a society he wrote about where lawlessness and disorder abounded. He thought that society to be fiction-We live in a possible worse one depending where you live.
Uncle buck is spot on,this government has pushed in too many stupid laws to the extent where children are un punishable and they are more than aware of this.Bring back the cane and restore order in schools then bring back national service.If kids want to kill people we should send them into battle,lets see how scary they are when they`re the ones under attack.I have absolutely no confidence in this country and it`s inept judicial system any more.Why should the hardworking tax payers like us, be targets for the dis respectful next generation to do as they please with.
Rugbygirl, Urmston
If we had real laws that we enforced properly the kids who are out of control would think twicw about carrying weapons. it worked on the isle of man for generations but since the isle of man took the birch out of their system they also have a drug/crime problem .i used to vist freinds in the isling up until a few years ago and you could walk anywhere on the island anytime night or day but since they took the birch off them,they are like us now crime ridden.
jomov & sven is god (he is, by the way!):
An example from experience! I remember back in 1975. I was at Parrswood High and Mr Iball was head (now there was a headmaster who commanded respect!) I was leaning out of a 2nd floor window (South Block), dropping berries I'd collected from bushes, onto kids walking into the entrance below. I clearly remember the shout, "You boy!!", and looking to see 'Icky' getting out of his car and pointing at me. Of course I ran! Mrs Iball was 1st year head and came looking for the culprit. Not being one to control my look of guilt, she soon sussed who it was. Needless to say, I was frog-marched to 'Icky's' office and was instructed to come back at lunch-time. Now, there-in lies the master-stroke! He was reknowned for his use of 'the strap' and so I feared the worst. I couldn't think about anything else all morning. Lunchtime arrived and I duly obliged (the alternative was unthinkable!) Mr Iball severely reprimanded me but spared me the strap, solely because I'd never been in trouble before. And I never was in trouble again! The lesson had been learned. I was terrified of the consequences of my actions and behaved as a model pupil. Well, almost! My point is - I had a deterent and it worked. I've since grown up to show respect to others. Today, I find nothing more rewarding than seeing the reaction of others when I behave in an unexpectedly kind way. My life motto is to treat others with MORE respect than I expect myself!
The schools and governments of the 70s did SOMETHING right at least!
Metal detector will only work to keep knives and guns out of school, BUT, criminals are keeping their weapons in someone else's back garden. Will these detectors stop school children from doing the same? I guess not. So they do nothing to keep knives off the streets.
Uncle Buck - I know what you mean, I remember my brother having a blackboard rubber thrown at him in class (although it didn't actually hit him it certainly got his attention!) Also on the use of foul language on the football pitch he was chased back to school by the teacher..hot on his heels!! You know these things can be laughed at now when we think back to those times...I certainly don't regard them as abusive or harsh.
What an admission of failure after 10 + years of labour misrule. Poor Jacqui says she wouldn't walk round Hackney at night. Sadly my daughter has to because it's the only place she can afford a house.
Get them out. Get someone in who will introduce real punishments.