Officers from the Neighbourhood Action Team in Leicester city centre made an arrest last night during the latest metal detector arch operation.
The arch was assembled in Humberstone Gate at approximately 7.30pm until 11.30pm on Thursday January 20, and a total of 275 people walked through.
A 16-year-old boy was searched by police and then arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a knife in a public place. He was later interviewed by officers and given a reprimand, a police caution given to youths.
During the previous operation a 21-year-old man was charged with possessing a knife in a public place, he is due to appear in court next month.
The metal detector arch operations are being run by the Safer Leicester Partnership as part of the Government funded project TKAP. The project focuses on knife crime and serious youth violence and 51 other areas across the UK are taking part.
So far, since the project began in April 2010, over 2,000 people have walked through the arch and fewer than ten bladed articles have been found.
Sgt Siobhan Gorman, the Sergeant for the Neighbourhood Action Team, said: “These operations have been really successful in reassuring the public and have also acted as a warning to possible knife crime offenders.
“Thankfully we haven’t had to arrest many people and only a few bladed articles have been found, but previous operations have shown that we will take action if we need to. Knife crime is something that we take extremely seriously at Leicestershire Constabulary and we are determined to keep reducing the numbers in Leicester.
“Residents of Leicester should feel safe in the knowledge that the city doesn’t have a real issue with knife crime and that those who are caught carrying knives are being dealt with accordingly.”
Issued on 21/01/11 at 14:14
