KNIFE crime in South Yorkshire has fallen by 15.4%, according to new police figures.
The data, released on Tuesday, also showed that young people were involved in a third of offences which included armed robberies and wounding.
The figures are for the last financial year, April 07 to March 08, and compare with the previous year. P
olice say the key to the reduction has been an education programme which officers have taken into schools.
Detective Superintendent Adrian Teague said: "We are starting to reap the benefits of the relationships that we have built with young people over the last three years.
"Since armed officers started visiting secondary schools to talk about the dangers of carrying a weapon we have seen substantial reductions in knife crime."
A straw poll at one school revealed a significant change in the students' attitude towards knife crime who said they now consider it much more serious than before.
Plans are now in place to carry out more intelligence-led operations using two new knife arches.
Det Supt Teague added: "Already the arches have been used successfully to prevent people from taking knives into some Doncaster night clubs.
"We intend to use the arches to help prosecute individuals who we know carry weapons and target irresponsible retailers who sell knives to young people."
"Although the outlook is good there is no room for complacency. One knife related crime is one too many."
The full article contains 251 words and appears in South Yorkshire Times newspaper.
