The operation is one of a series taking place across the country to clamp down on serious youth violence as part of the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP).

The Home Secretary saw police officers in Liverpool Lime Street railway station conducting searches for weapons and distributing leaflets on the dangers and consequences of violent crime.

Similar Portcullis operations so far in London, Manchester and Kent have resulted in nearly 500 arrests, more than 150 young people being referred to positive activities, uncovered three cannabis farms, a shotgun and fifteen knives.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

“This operation is a great example of the work taking place across the country to tackle violent crime.

"We are determined to rid our streets of serious youth violence and this kind of local targeted operation sends out a clear message to the small minority of people who commit these crimes that it will not be tolerated.

"This year we have invested more than £5 million in tough enforcement, prevention and education specifically to tackle knife crime and serious youth violence. This shows that, by working together, we really can make a difference.”
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Helen King said:

"Merseyside Police is committed to tackling the problem of serious youth violence and knife crime in our area, and is working with our partners to ensure that fewer young people become involved in this type of crime, which has a devastating effect on the whole community.

"There are two elements to our approach to tackling this type of crime. The first is our bid to educate children from an early age that carrying a knife is dangerous and committing such crimes has serious consequences. The second is to keep areas used for entertainment, transport and schools safe. You will see both of these elements in action during this operation.

"We also want the public to help by telling us who is carrying a knife. Anyone with any information about knife crime or if you know someone who is carrying a knife please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
British Transport Police Chief Superintendent Peter Holden said:

“With the funding from the Home Office we have pioneered the use of this equipment across Britain.

“In the last two years, we have recovered hundreds of weapons and arrested over 1,500 people nationwide. Any one of those weapons – and they include knives, bats, firearms and more could have caused serious injury or worse.

“Operations such as these deter people from carrying weapons and show the travelling public that we are being proactive in ensuring their safety on the rail network.”
Other Operation Portcullis activities across the country include:

• Street-based police teams engaging with young people, pointing them towards diversionary activities and helping prevent them from becoming victims of crime;

• Use of knife arches to detect those carrying lethal weapons;

• Targeted raids on individuals believed to be involved in violent offending;

• Automatic number plate recognition operations to trace those who may be carrying weapons in vehicles; and

• Visiting clubs and pubs to ensure licensing laws are being adhered to.

Portcullis Operations involve local police, the local authority, UK Border Agency, British Transport Police and a variety of agencies working together. The government is funding 10 Portcullis operations in key areas around the country as part of TKAP.

The Operation builds on prevention activities which are at the heart of the Youth Crime Action Plan. YCAP was launched in July 2008 with an additional £100 million of new funding to tackle youth crime in all its forms. This included providing 69 priority areas with £765,000 over 3 years for an intensive programme of action including taking young people at risk off the streets at night and street based teams of youth workers engaging with hard-to-reach young people.