'Police should search pupils in classroom'

- 13 July 2007

Ken Livingstone

CHILDREN could be frisked in classrooms by police officers in a controversial bid to crush knife crime culture.

During a visit to Barking and Dagenham last week, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, revealed his plans to the Recorder and swore he would not let youth crime spiral out of control.

He said: "I am trying to persuade the government to back a move that might upset a lot of people.

"I want police with mobile knife detection machines to turn up unannounced at a secondary school and test and search everyone.

"There are a lot of children determined to carry weapons, and there must be no excuse and no exception. We must break that cycle.

"If we don't then there is a risk we could end up with a situation like we have seen in Los Angeles where there are a lot of young victims of knife and gun crime. Every year the count is in the hundreds.

"I will not allow London to get into a situation like that."

Mr Livingstone then pledged to look into a possible windfall for the council, so free entertainment can be provided for cash-strapped youngsters to keep them off the streets.

Roger Luxton, Barking and Dagenham Council's director of children's services, warned against drastic action and feels the decision should be up to the schools.

He said: "Measures that will see our children safer while they are learning or at play in the borough's schools are welcome.

"However, sweeping measures like these can lead to children feeling victimised and do not deal with specific problems of why children may feel the need to carry a knife.

"Headteachers and teachers should be given the opportunity to devise safety initiatives that are targeted towards their pupils and the communities that they live in."

Mr Luxton praised Eastbrook School's knife pledge wall - a campaign to combat the crime and bullying - which was signed by Mr Livingstone during his visit.

The proposal was met with intrigue by Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas and Barking MP Margaret Hodge, who both felt the idea should by looked into.

Chief Insp Nick Hancock said: "I would like to work with the school headteachers on this. I welcome any new ideas to reduce the risk of knife crime as I know the devastating consequences it can have.