Sad but necessary to have school scanners to stop knives

12.00.00am GMT Sun 20th Jan 2008

Commenting on the news that the Home Office is to propose scanners at secondary school entrances in areas at high risk of gun and knife crime, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"It is sad that school scanners are necessary to stop a small minority of young people from carrying knives, but the number of high-profile stabbings at or outside schools in hot-spot areas for gangs means that this is a sensible precaution.

"More than three quarters of knife crime is committed by 12 to 20 year olds, and the most practical way to stop such assaults is by stopping the carrying of knives.

"In addition to scanners at key points, the police should be giving higher priority to stop and search for offensive weapons in danger areas. Even in London, only a small fraction of stop and search is targeted on knives and guns."