MOBILE scanners are to be introduced at railway stations across Kent as part of a national crackdown on people carrying knives and other illegal weapons.

Some rail users in the county welcomed the move but others said care must be taken to ensure it does not make stations “unworkable”.

British Transport Police (BTP) launched Operation Shield in London two months ago, in a bid to stamp out drunkenness, fare evasion and other anti-social behaviour.

It included officers using mobile and free-standing metal detectors to check on passengers carrying knives, knuckle-dusters and other weapons.

About 10,000 people have been scanned, 100 arrested and 68 knives recovered.

BTP spokesman Simon Lubin said: “The system is intelligence led, so the scanners will be brought in wherever there is a problem.”

Tim Nicholson, former chairman of the now defunct Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England, said commuters were averse to anything that took up their time.

He said: “The public is fed up with vandalism and bad behaviour, and concerned about terrorism in stations. It is a good thing in principle and, if done well, it could be a good practice.”

Tonbridge Line Commuters spokesman Lionel Shields was worried about the impact of security barriers at peak hours at main terminals like Tonbridge. He said: “At the height of rush hour it is already phenomenally busy. It could make the stations unworkable.”

A spokesman for Southeastern Railway said its revenue enforcement and protection officers would help bolster the system.