A special weapon detecting archway has been deployed by police at pubs and fast food outlets to tackle knife crime.

Officers across Dartford and Gravesend have been using a so-called 'knife arch' at popular venues.

It scans customers and alerts officers if a weapon is being carried.

Several venues have worked in partnership with police on the initiative in recent weeks including local pubs and fast food outlets.

On Saturday July 13the knife arch was in use at McDonald's in Gravesend and only those who were prepared to use the scanner were allowed in.

Over 200 people passed through the arch between 2.30am and 4.30am and many people commented positively about the police effort.

The fast food outlet in Gravesend has hit the news several times.

In March last year a teenage thug who repeatedly stabbed another youth in front of shocked diners at the restaurant was locked up for six-and-a-half years.

And police have been called there hundreds of times to break up trouble or deal with anti-social behaviour.

Chief Inspector Neil Loudon said: "This is just one more tool we are using in the fight against knife crime.

"We are working with popular venues in the area, it does not mean they have more of a problem than anywhere else. Like us they want the area to be as safe as possible.

"Those who carry a knife are putting both themselves and other people in danger. They are also risking a prison sentence as we take a zero tolerance approach to those who carry weapons and will not hesitate in making arrests when we stop people in possession of them.

"We are committed to making the area a safer one and will continue to use every resource available to us and work closely with our partner agencies to tackle knife crime."

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