PERHAPS the most disturbing trend to have emerged from among teenagers in recent years has been the rise in the use of knives.

Indeed, terrifyingly, it has become ALMOST a ‘fashion’ among young people to carry knives with the same ease and sense of pride as they carry their mobile phones.

Doubtless, there will even be some competition among certain ages and groups to see just who can carry the deadliest. For many, no doubt, it is just that – a fad, as harmless as wearing the colours of their favourite football team and nothing more.

But for some, no matter what their original intention, once fuelled with drink, drugs or just naive bravado, their latest, must-have accessory can all too quickly become an instrument of death.

And it’s so easy isn’t it?

Someone annoys them, they get angry, a confrontation occurs, but instead of just using their fists or feet (which is bad enough but commonplace nonetheless), they reach instead, for that item of street-smart wardrobe which only seconds before had been merely a badge of so-called ‘cool’.

The consequences, of course, of these few, violent seconds can be terrible and tragic. Lives are lost and parents and family are left to pick up the pieces.

So let’s hope that this latest initiative by Thames Valley Police really does make a difference.