THE Western Bulldogs have joined a State Government campaign to stamp out knife crime in the West.

The Bulldogs will teach teens and other young people in a range of social programs about the dangers and consequences of carrying knives.

Player Robert Murphy has been named as the ambassador of the partnership.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said despite a recent decline in knife crime, more young people have been caught carrying knives, especially in the West.

He said the State Government was keen to nip the knife-carrying culture in the bud.

“We want kids to be having good and productive lives, not to be involved in a knife attack,” Mr Cameron said.

“There is absolutely no winner when it comes to a knife fight.

“People should not be carrying knives unless they need to (for their jobs). There is a culture we fear will grow unless we take the necessary steps.”

The announcement comes the same week Mr Cameron unveiled tougher anti-knife laws.

People caught carrying a knife or otherweapon face a $1000 on-the-spot fine, which will double if they are caught in and around pubs, clubs and bars.

Police seized knives, a machete and knuckledusters in a trial weapons blitz at Footscray train station in January, after police powers were expanded to allow random weapon searches in designated areas without a warrant.

Police also searched 281 people in a random weapons search at Footscray train station in June and seized eight weapons, including five box cutters.

Mr Cameron said the partnership was the next stage in a multi-pronged approach to knife crime.

“There’s never one simple solution to a problem. It has to come from a number of fronts,” hesaid.