New wands to help catch drinkers carrying knives

MORE than 70 pubs and nightspots across the county have been issued with devices to help door staff catch out punters carrying knives.

And the roll-out of the ‘knife wands’ by Staffordshire Police has been backed by nightclub owners who hope it will reassure customers.

The county force’s licensing unit has purchased 80 of the special devices after receiving funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

Society Bar in Leek is among those where a knife wand will be used to check customers as they head in.

Pete Terry, managing director of parent company Disco Bars Group, said: “Our primary focus is to let our customers enjoy themselves in a safe and secure environment.

“Any additional resources from the police to help us deter those who may cause trouble is always welcome and I hope it goes some way to reassure customers that our venues are a safe place to visit.”

If door staff detect a knife with the kit, pictured, they are instruct to contact local police patrols who will do an ‘in-depth stop and search’ on the individual.

Also the details of anyone with a knife will be passed on to the Partnership Against Business Crime in Staffordshire (PABCIS) for an exclusion order to be considered involving all venues. Senior officers say the initiative comes as other forces have used similar tactics and have enjoyed positive results while in some areas there has been a reduction in knife crime. Inspector Karen Cooke, head of the Staffordshire Police’s licensing unit, said: “This important funding boost from the OPCC will help my team and partners to create safe spaces in the night time economy across the county.

“We hope that with enough venues utilising this resource, it will reassure the public that Staffordshire is a safe place to visit and deter those who believe it is wise to carry a knife in public spaces.”

Julie Davies, county business crime partnership manager for PABCIS, said: “The majority of venues approached have welcomed this preventative initiative and are working willingly with the police to ensure the safety and security of visitors to their venues.

“Hopefully this initiative will help members of the public feel safer whilst enjoying all Staffordshire businesses have to offer.”

Meanwhile officers in the county have been taking part in the national Operation Sceptre – a week of action centered on reducing knife crime.

“This has seen them not only take enforcement action but run education sessions with youngsters.