Adonis: Put police in schools to find knives

Police forces should send more officers into schools as part of a new drive to combat knife crime, a government minister said today.

Lord Adonis backed the use of compulsory weapons searches where teachers suspect children of carrying blades and said he wanted to see more officers based in schools in tough areas. The minister, responsible for London's schools, added: "I am encouraging local police forces to make more officers available to schools. Head teachers are supportive of engagement by appropriately trained officers."

Lord Adonis said more than 450 English schools have officers based onsite. He told the annual conference of teachers' union Voice, in Daventry: "Nothing is more imperative than that we keep weapons out of schools. This is why we gave schools the power to search without consent pupils whom they suspect to be carrying weapons."

Ministers plan to widen search powers, to allow teachers to hunt for alcohol, drugs and other illicit items.