Tom Brake visits knife crime arch at Waterloo Station

12.02.15pm GMT Wed 14th Jan 2009

Tom visiting a knife arch in action

On the 13th January, the Home Affairs Select Committee visited Waterloo Station to see a knife arch in action. Knife arches have been deployed by British Transport Police as part of the new initiative 'Safer station, safer journey'. The aim of the arches is to ' protect the vast majority of people who wouldn't even consider carrying a knife'.

This visit is part of the knife crime inquiry launched in July 2008. The Committee is investigating levels and causes of knife crime, profiles and attitudes of offenders, and will assess effective solutions.

Tom Brake MP, a member of the select committee commented : 'This is a good initiative to ensure the safety of our train stations. These arches help to reduce crime by creating high visibility deterrent. The key to tackling gang and knife culture is visible policing, intelligence from local communities, locating risk areas through hospital reports. Intensive stop and search in potential gang hotspots are also part of the solution.'