MERSEYSIDE is among the forces hit hardest by rising knife crime this year, according to Home Office statistics.
Around 175 crimes involving knives took place between April and June, 2007, but this year 238 similar crimes were recorded between January and March this year.
But Supt Mike Cloherty, who took on the role of coordinator of anti-knife crime action at Merseyside Police in May, said the force was actually performing well.
He said: “We’re the lowest among comparable forces for knife crime.
“But it is true that the national picture is one where there is ever increasing number of young people involved in use of knives.
“In Merseyside, the picture is complex, though. Some of our initial data shows that the main age group caught up in this is 30 - 39-year-olds.”
Police, however, are targeting youngsters and are attempting to get their message across by embedding 35 bobbies in schools.
