Knife arch used at under-18s music event

A knife arch was used at an under-18s music event in Torquay

A mobile knife arch that was used at a music event in Devon at the weekend allowed officers to have an "open conversation" about knife crime, police have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the knife arch was used at an under-18s music event at The Foundry in Torquay on Saturday.

Officers said the arch, which looks similar to security scanners used in airports, was designed to deter knife crime.

No knives were found during the deployment in Torquay, the force said.

The knife arch was previously during a week-long operation last year

The device was positioned at the entrance of the venue to scan everyone entering the premises.

It works instantly, flashing red when there is a positive result for a metal object and green for a negative scan, police said.

More than 850 tickets were sold for the event, the force added.

'Great opportunity'

Insp Chris Lithgow, who leads the neighbourhood police team in Torquay, said police did not expect to seize a large quantity of knives.

“It is a positive that no knives were found during this deployment," he said.

"Taking the knife arch to events where young people are in attendance presents us with a great opportunity to be visible and have an open conversation."

The force has two knife arches it uses across Devon and Cornwall.

Last year, police recovered more than 170 knives during a week-long operation.