UNEMPLOYED young adults will be targeted by police as the latest figures show knife crime in Oxfordshire has increased.

Police in Oxfordshire are extending a campaign, which previously targeted school children, in a bid to cut down on the number of people with knives.

The move comes as figures show knife crime increased in the past 12 months by 14 per cent — despite the Government-funded knife crime campaign.

Since June, about 12,500 people have been stopped and searched in the Thames Valley and police found 45 weapons.

The New Destiny Trust was launched last summer and saw knife arches deployed outside nightspots and shock lectures at secondary schools.

Last week, the Government announced Thames Valley Police would get a share of £5m to combat knife crime over the next 12 months.

Robin Gardner, Oxfordshire’s knife crime co-ordinator, said: “We started in the schools and have identified more vulnerable and disenchanted kids who are at risk and those who we believe will benefit from mentoring by the New Destiny Trust.

“With this extra Government funding we will be looking at young adults up to age of 24. This may involve working with job centres and finding vulnerable young adults who may be struggling to get a job and at risk of falling into crime.”

Police figures show between April 2007 and January 2008 knives, or other bladed weapons, were used in 208 crimes in Oxfordshire.

During the same period between 2008-09, knives were involved in 244 crimes.

The rise included a leap in Oxford from 97 to 137.

Police also plan to work nightclubs with door staff.

Mr Gardner said: “It is difficult to know if it is working, but the figures show a decrease in the number of people found with knives in the past six months.

“The next stage will see us continue to work with schools, pupil referral units and older groups of young people to identify those we think are most at risk of becoming involved in knife crime or gangs.