Cleveland Police’s frontline officers will be equipped with metal detecting wands to target knife carriers and seize concealed weapons, thanks to funding from Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV).
A total of 66 handheld detectors have been distributed across Response Teams in Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton and Hartlepool, across the Matrix team. Each of the four districts received 14 devices, whilst 10 have been allocated to Matrix.
CURV – which sits within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland – released £10,000 to fund the knife wands.
They will be used to support stop and search powers and remove weapons from streets across the Cleveland Police area and be part of the force’s approach to preventing and reducing violent crime on Teesside.
The wands will not replace the requirement for a physical search but will be used as a screening device for officers already conducting a lawful and justified physical search of a person following their arrest.
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “We know how much knife crime devastates lives and communities in Cleveland.
“The metal detecting wands are a practical tool that our frontline officers will use to help keep the public safe. I also hope the wands provide an extra layer of protection for officers, helping to identify sharp objects before they pose a risk, reducing the chance of injury in the line of duty.
“This funding supports my Police and Crime Plan commitment to help rid communities of dangerous weapons through proactive police operations. It also complements CURV’s wider knife crime reduction work, including future investment linked to targeted knife-crime hotspot patrols.
“Alongside the prevention work of CURV and enforcement activity from Cleveland Police, this approach will help people understand the dangers of carrying a knife and make them think twice before carrying one.”
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Pringle, who leads in knife related crime for the force, said: “The introduction of these handheld metal detector wands will make it more difficult for suspects to conceal bladed weapons from officers who stop them.
“Tackling knife crime is a key priority for the force and anything additional to help us tackle violence is most welcome. We hope that they will not only assist in detecting hidden weapons but will also act as a deterrent to anyone thinking of carrying a knife.
“The wands will be used alongside other initiatives to stop and prevent knife crime, including targeted patrols to tackle knife carriers, stop and search, and our youth intervention and engagement work. We also work very closely with partners, in particular the CURV to ensure that we have the latest research available to us.
“We have officers patrolling in areas of high harm for knife crime, targeting those suspected of carrying a bladed weapon. There are no circumstances where it is acceptable to carry a knife, and if you are caught you will be arrested.”