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Southampton City Council has introduced metal detectors to schools throughout the city in an attempt to uncover pupils carrying knives and the local authority has made the £30 handheld devices available to every school in the region.

The security devices are being offered to all 82 primary and secondary schools across the city.

The scanners are part of the wider Southampton Safe City Partnership with the Local Authority, schools and Hampshire police working together.

It is believed that the city’s schools do not have a serious issue with knife crime, with only two cases of students carrying knives being reported last year.

However, the investment in technology comes as educational establishments across the country are becoming more aware of students carrying weapons to classes.

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said “We have not heard of any other local authority that has introduced these metal detectors en masse.”