Highest knife crime in south east

Hampshire has recorded the highest level of knife crime in the south east and the eighth across the whole of England and Wales, figures show. Home Office statistics revealed in the last 12 months to March, 388 serious crimes involved a bladed instrument. But overall police-recorded crime in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight dropped 9%, the same as the national average. Insp Alistair Nichols denied there was a "significant" knife culture and said police were working hard on the issue. He added: "The simple message is carrying knives ruins lives. "We're working hard to get knives and other offensive weapons off our streets." Metal detector wands have been issued to officers, as well as some of the city's bars and schools, to carry out searches of those suspected of carrying a bladed weapon. The south east area also includes Kent,... [read full story]