The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has told officers that offenders of any age should be charged if found in possession of a knife, instead of cautioned.
Brown unveiled the plan in an interview with The Sun newspaper. He said: "It is completely unacceptable to carry a knife or a gun. Where police have previously been cautioning people, there now has to be a presumption of prosecution."
The 12 areas are mainly in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham.
The government is expected to publish a violent crime action plan next month. Other proposals being considered include tougher restrictions on the depiction of knives in video games, and a complete ban on some types of knife.
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