Police say hundreds of knives have been handed over in Staffordshire as part of a county-wide amnesty.
Operation Sceptre ran from 16th to 22nd May and saw more than 290 knives surrendered at police stations.
The initiative also saw Trading Standards teams conduct test purchases across Staffordshire, with all 23 stores visited refusing to sell knives to underage shoppers.
Chief Inspector Robert Hessell, Staffordshire Police’s lead for knife crime, said:
“It’s vitally important that we continue to highlight and encourage conversations around knife crime within our communities – this operation was designed to challenge the stereotypes and stigma surrounding knife crime.
“It is usually the case that the majority of young people will never be affected by knife crime, but encouraging this awareness and providing a safe space for people to ditch their blades, we hope we have helped to continue to make our communities are safer place to be.”
Chief Inspector Robert Hessell, Staffordshire Police
