A CAMPAIGN to tackle knife crime has been launched in the borough by the police as part of an operation running across London.

A number of knife-searching operations have been carried out at train and tube stations, as well as in schools and colleges within the borough.

The crackdown also aims to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying a knife and that as a result individuals could be arrested, possibly sent to prison, and get a criminal record.

On Monday morning, commuters arriving at Uxbridge Tube Station were being randomly asked to step through arch knife-scanners which had been set up outside the entrances.

Sergeant Anthony Bennett, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "We're doing this to send out the message that if you're carrying knives in the borough you will be caught. After

the number of stabbings that have occurred across London there is obviously concern in our community, and we want to reassure the public that we are being proactive in our response to the issue."

He added that the key age group found to be carrying knives is males aged between 14 and 19 years old and it is across different ethnic groups.

Mr Bennett said: "The main reasons for carrying one is either to commit crime, self defence, or because of peer pressure.

"Although people do not have to enter the knife-detecting arch the police will ask individuals why they don't wish to take part, and if the person is being evasive the officers will make further enquires.

"Over the last year there has been a fall of three per cent in the number of assaults in the borough, so there is a downward trend, but obviously we want to continue to take preventative measures."

He added that as part of the campaign the police are also giving information to young people on knife crime in schools and colleges as part of crime prevention open days.