Metal detectors to help police find hidden knives

POLICE will be equipped with metal detectors to combat the knife crime epidemic sweeping Britain.

West Midlands Police is trialling 80 knife wands to identify more easily anyone carrying a blade.

The force has the highest amount of knife crime outside London.

It will be the first time officers have used the metal-detecting devices, to be used for stop and search procedures.

Chief Superintendent Chris Todd said: “Response teams across the force region will benefit but there will be a focus on those operating in higher knife -crime areas.

“This investment means that nearly half of all our response cars will now carry knife wands.

“It’s a move that’s been taken as part of our wider work to tackle knife crime and to make it more difficult for people to conceal weapons.”

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: “Sadly, knife crime has increased by 75 per cent since 2012. It means police are spending more and more time tackling the problem.

“As such, it is important hardworking officers have the tools to do the job we expect of them.

“That is why I’m fully behind the decision to purchase these knife wands using money seized from criminals.

“These knife wands will help the police to keep us all safe.”