Knife arches for schools and pubs

8:56am Tuesday 15th July 2008

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METAL detector arches are to be used at High Wycombe pubs and schools in a bid to quell fears over knife crime.

Police said national concern following high profile stabbing deaths had raised fears, particularly among young people, and action was needed.

An extra arch has been bought for Buckinghamshire with Home Office cash - but officers expect the majority of people scanned to be given the all clear.

A range of pubs and schools would get the arches a top inspector said, although those said to have problems would be targeted.

It comes after an arch was installed at Marlow train station for the town's regatta, where one knife was found hidden in a shoe.

Chief Inspector Stuart Craik, of Wycombe Division, said: "From our figures we don't have a knife crime problem in Wycombe. We are affected less by this phenomenon than a lot of places nationally.

"However, there does appear to be a bit of a fear amongst some of the youngsters that they may be subject to knife crime."

Chf Insp Craik said he could recall only one stabbing incident in recent times. The arches were "about reassurance as opposed to detection of offenders" he said.

They would be brought to schools on a day-by-day basis to educate children about the dangers of knife crime, he said.

This would give pupils and pubgoers confidence that "not everyone has a knife in their pocket" he said.

"We will be looking at how we can get into schools to reassure children that they are safe."

Chf Insp Craik added: "If we were using it for the education and reassurance then we would probably do it within the town centre in the larger pubs.

"However, if we thought there was a problem in a certain pub, if we were getting updates from the hospital saying there had been several people receiving knife wounds from a certain pub, we would look at it."

But he said: "At the moment we are not getting that kind of information."

Pubs gave a mixed response to the news.

Pippa Dods, temporary manager of The Antelope in Church Square, High Wycombe: "I think it's a really good idea. The bouncers can't search every person that comes in.

"Being searched is more of an intrusion than going through a knife arch. In a way, girls find it more of an intrusion to have a burly bouncer going their hand bag."

But Derren Miller-Price, landlord of The Bell in Frogmoor: "In the long run it'll be safer but in the short run it will affect business.

"Everybody will go on the defensive - it's something that is different and the honest people will not like it because they'll be branded like everybody else."