RAIL passengers using Carlisle station were shocked to see scores of police officers and a tall metal arch as they attempted to board their trains.

British Transport Police officers, supported by Cumbria police, were taking part in an initiative aimed at tackling knife crime at the station yesterday.

Train users were greeted by a metal detector at the entrance to the station, alongside numerous uniformed and plain-clothed officers.

Inspector Diane Bradbury said: “There are two elements to it. The facts are that when serious crime trends start in London, Cumbria tends to be 10 years behind. British Transport Police have done some work and from their statistics – not Cumbria Police’s statistics – this train station over a period of 12 months is where, if they do stop checks, they do find more weapons here than they do at other train stations.

“That’s not unusual for a major city location train station. This is their response to that.

“It’s part of their understanding and working out what the next steps are for them.”

The inspector has a clear aim for the drive.

“A successful day would be several indicators, several stop searches, but negative results in terms of weapons.

“It remains to be seen what the results are. You could also say that it is a positive if we do make some discoveries, because then we are identifying correctly times and places where people are out and about with concealed items on them.

“I would rather mitigate it and not have the offences, but if we discover them that opens up a way for us to deal with it in the future, and makes us more wise as to what is happening in the train station.”

Inspector Bradbury has a clear message for anyone considering carrying a concealed weapon into a train station.

The day is part of a week of action for Cumbria Police, which it says will see the force target areas important to local people.

Today officers will be hunting down drivers using their mobile phones while behind the wheel.