Children shown knife arch in lesson from police

Police visited two schools in St Austell with the metal detector

Schoolchildren in Cornwall have been shown a metal-detecting knife arch by police to teach them about the dangers of carrying weapons.

Devon and Cornwall Police took one of the arches used to events to Poltair School and Penrice Academy in St Austell.

The force said the arch was taken to "open up a conversation about knife crime" with those aged between 11 and 16 and not to detect items.

Insp Si Andrews said: "If we can encourage young people to make safe decisions and deter them from carrying a knife now or in the future, that's a win."

'Vital work'

Insp Andrews who heads up the neighbourhood police team in St Austell, said knife crime was "not a major problem" in the force area, but it was "particularly important" to educate children on it.

"We take the safety of young people and our communities seriously," he said.

"Vital work like this, which helps to safeguard and protect individuals from being involved in illegal activity, will continue throughout the year."

Poltair School assistant headteacher Heidi Spurgeon said it was "fantastic" to see so many students engaging with the police visit.

"We will continue to work closely with Devon and Cornwall Police and Safer Cornwall to ensure our students are educated on key national issues that impact young people," she said.