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Metal detectors to stop knife carriers in clubs
Aline Nassif21 Jul 2008
Mobile metal detectors are to be set up in the West End during the school summer holidays in an attempt to crack down on knife crime.
Screening arches and wands will be used to "detect and deter" people from bringing weapons to the area under the Met's anti-knife crime campaign, Operation Blunt Two.
And up to 200 police officers and police community support officers from Westminster will patrol bars and clubs in central London, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, for the next seven weeks to "provide reassurance and advice".
They will be backed up by officers from the Territorial Support Group, the Met's mounted branch, Transport for London, British Transport Police and officers from the Met's Special Constabulary.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sue Hill, from Westminster police, today said: "Westminster continues to be one of the safest places to visit in the world with millions of people expected to travel into the West End over the coming weeks.
"We want them all to go away with good memories of their visit without criminals spoiling their fun.
"Anyone thinking of travelling to the West End to commit crime should think again. In addition to the extra uniformed officers and community support officers, there will be undercover police deployed to target offenders."
A similar operation last summer resulted in almost 200 arrests, for offences including drugs, weapons, assaults, pickpocketing and robbery.
So far this year, 21 teenagers have been violently killed in London. The most recent was stab victim 18-year-old Freddy Moody, who died last week.
Operation Blunt Two was launched two weeks ago in response to the spate of killings. Its officers searched more than 5,000 people and recovered 231 knives in its first four days.
Mayor Boris Johnson has called for more hand-held scanners and knife arches to be used at London Tube stations to fight the "terrible scourge of knife crime".
