Knife scanner used in Dartford and Gravesend

Officers in Dartford and Gravesend have been working with a number of venues to reduce violence and tackle knife crime. Recently local policing teams have been working across the area using a knife arch at popular venues. It scans individuals and alerts officers if a weapon is being carried. Several venues have worked in partnership with police on the initiative in recent weeks including local pubs and fast food outlets. On Saturday, 13 July 2019, the knife arch was in use at McDonalds in Gravesend and only those who were prepared to use the scanner were permitted entry to the fast food outlet. Over 200 people passed through the arch between 2.30am and 4.30am and many people commented positively about the police effort. Chief Inspector Neil Loudon said: ‘This is just one more tool we are using in the fight against knife crime. ‘We are working with popular venues in the area, it does not mean they have more of a problem than anywhere else. Like us they want the area to be as safe as possible. ‘Those who carry a knife are putting both themselves and other people in danger. They are also risking a prison sentence as we take a zero tolerance approach to those who carry weapons and will not hesitate in making arrests when we stop people in possession of them. ‘We are committed to making the area a safer one and will continue to use every resource available to us and work closely with our partner agencies to tackle knife crime.’