A pilot scheme offering police increased powers to stop and search criminals known for carrying knives and other weapons is being trialled in Merseyside.
The introduction of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) is aimed at reducing knife crime and "changing the behaviour" of offenders prone to carrying weapons. Police can now apply to the courts to impose the orders on criminals, after they have been convicted of an offence involving a bladed article or offensive weapon.
The orders give officers the authority to stop and search anyone who is the subject of an SVRO, and makes it an offence to fail to tell a police officer if you have an SVRO. The pilot will run in the Merseyside, West Midlands, Sussex and Thames Valley police force areas for two years before a decision is made on whether to roll it out nationally.
