Frontline officers are being equipped with metal-detecting wands to help keep knives off the streets.
Cleveland Police introduced 66 of the handheld devices across Response Teams in Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton, and Hartlepool, with additional units assigned to the force's Matrix team.
It comes as new ONS figures show a seven per cent rise in police-recorded knife crimes in Cleveland in 2025 - up from 869 in 2024 to 930 last year.
Each district received 14 wands, with 10 given to Matrix.
The wands were funded by the Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV) and will support stop and search operations aimed at reducing knife crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Pringle said: "The introduction of these handheld metal detector wands will make it more difficult for suspects to conceal bladed weapons from officers who stop them.
"Tackling knife crime is a key priority for the force and anything additional to help us tackle violence is most welcome.
"We hope that they will not only assist in detecting hidden weapons but will also act as a deterrent to anyone thinking of carrying a knife."
The wands will not replace physical searches but will be used as a screening tool during lawful searches after an arrest.
DCI Pringle said: "The wands will be used alongside other initiatives to stop and prevent knife crime, including targeted patrols to tackle knife carriers, stop and search, and our youth intervention and engagement work.
"We also work very closely with partners, in particular the CURV to ensure that we have the latest research available to us.
"There are no circumstances where it is acceptable to carry a knife, and if you are caught you will be arrested."
The devices are part of Cleveland Police’s broader efforts to prevent and reduce violent crime across Teesside.
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: "We know how much knife crime devastates lives and communities in Cleveland.
"The metal detecting wands are a practical tool that our frontline officers will use to help keep the public safe.
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"I also hope the wands provide an extra layer of protection for officers, helping to identify sharp objects before they pose a risk, reducing the chance of injury in the line of duty.
"This funding supports my Police and Crime Plan commitment to help rid communities of dangerous weapons through proactive police operations.
"It also complements CURV’s wider knife crime reduction work, including future investment linked to targeted knife-crime hotspot patrols."
