The move, part of a Tackling Violence Action Plan to be unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on Monday, will also include measures designed to prevent binge drinkers moving on to commit crimes of violence.

Ms Smith will announce new resources for hundreds of metal-detecting arches and search wands in local communities.

It is understood that the mobile arches will be collapsible and small enough to be taken in the boot of a police car for use outside pubs, clubs or schools, or wherever there are fears knives are present.

The plan comes amid increasing concern about drunken violence on the streets of Britain, as well as the escalation in the use of knives, which were linked to 258 deaths in 2006/07 compared with 219 the previous year.

Developed with police, it will focus on the links between violent crime and alcohol.

The Home Office says that, while just 1% of crime involves serious violence, alcohol plays a part in almost half of violent incidents.

Ms Smith will say that she is determined not to let violent offenders get away with wrecking lives by stopping them from committing crimes in the first place.

Police, health workers, social services and councils will be asked to share information on individuals and addresses linked to binge drinking and violence in order to identify problems and develop a response at an early stage.

A £1 million campaign will be launched this summer to warn youngsters that - far from making them safer, as many believe - carrying a knife heightens their chances of becoming a victim of violence.