Schools in Oxfordshire have been urged to introduce airport-style metal detectors to screen pupils for knives after an increase in crime.

Thames Valley Police has used knife arches at schools across the region - especially Reading and Milton Keynes - but so far none in Oxford has been willing to take part.

Latest figures show knife crime in Oxfordshire has risen from 270 to 286 incidents in two years.

Insp John Fox, who is running Operation Blunt - an initiative to stop knife crime - said he wanted to introduce arches at schools to find children who might be carrying knives or sharp objects.

He said: "We have done an awful lot in schools with presentations and in groups to get across the message that it's not cool to carry a knife.

"A lot of youngsters think it's fashionable to carry a knife, but a knife can be turned on you.

"There are knife incidents, but compared to other places, Oxfordshire does not appear to have a knife culture. That said, incidents are growing. And it's something we continually need to look at to get this message across.

"The fact it has gone up it is obviously something we need to concentrate on.

"Many schools in Berkshire, Reading and Milton Keynes have taken part, but I'm not aware of any in Oxfordshire.

"I certainly hope schools in Oxfordshire are looking at this.

"If any are interested, we would like them to get involved and be happy to bring a knife arch to their school."

Police have been taking part in the New Destiny Trust, which raises awareness of knife crime through education sessions in schools. It was set up after 11-year-old Damilola Taylor was stabbed to death in London, in 2000.

Figures released this week showed knife crime in Oxfordshire had increased from 270 incidents in 2004-5 to 286 between in 2006-7.

Elsewhere in the Thames Valley, the increase was much higher.

In Milton Keynes, knife incidents soared from 76 to 180 and in Berkshire West, which includes Reading, incidents rose from 136 to 260.

Overall, knife crimes went up from 883 to 1,132 incidents.

Police have been using the knife arches outside pubs across the county, including Oxford and Witney.

They are also sending more officers into schools to speak to pupils about the perils of carrying knives.

Michael Waine, Oxfordshire county council's cabinet member for schools improvement and a former headteacher, said: "I would wish for the county council to do everything possible in terms of knife crime.

"But the schools are self-governing and decisions will be made by individual schools.

"Obviously, there would be communities in Oxfordshire where it would be more appropriate and others where it would not.

"We would encourage schools to be active if they were aware of problems with knives."