FOUR schools in Newton Abbot have been given metal detecting wands as part of a campaign to tackle knife crime.

The wands are being used as officers in Newton Abbot join the national campaign.

The town’s police station also has a knife amnesty bin place outside for anyone with a knife, bladed items which could be used as a weapon, to be able to surrender it.

The wands in schools and the bin are part of Operation Sceptre, the national campaign that takes place twice a year.

A spokesman for Newton Abbot police said the operation is ‘supporting the work Newton Abbot Police carry out all year round to ensure residents are safe from knife crime in their community’.

The amnesty bin is outside Newton Abbot police station where anyone can surrender blades and knives without any repercussions.

The spokesman added: ‘The metal detecting wands will be used to support the schools policy when it comes to bag checking etc and take prohibited items off the streets of Newton.

‘The wands will not replace the requirement for a physical search but be used as a screening device available to school staff already conducting a physical search of a student as part of their policy.

‘While knife crime remains low in our area, in comparison to other parts of the country, we are committed to doing everything we can to tackle serious violence by working hard closely with our partner agencies and other organisations to ensure Newton Abbot is a town that is safe, and feels safe.’