Police have released images of just some of the knives that have been taken off the streets of Morecambe as part of a week-long campaign of action.
Operation Sceptre aims to target those who are carrying weapons, raise awareness of the dangers and impacts of knife crime, and engage with retailers.
Morecambe Police have shown the volume of knives handed in to an amnesty bin located near to the Youth Centre on Central Drive.
A spokesperson said: ‘’We're now on day two of the operation, to help raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and the work being done to stop it.
‘’These were just some of the knives that we recovered (so far).
‘’We are committed to keeping our communities safe and tackling violent crime is a priority for us.
We would encourage anyone with information about knife crime in Lancashire to contact the police or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’’
Local officers are working together with partner organisations to visit schools to educate young people, search for knives in public places, conduct high visibility patrols, use metal detecting arches to identify people who may be carrying knives, and give advice to shops on the laws on selling knives.
Chief Inspector Dave Oldfield, of Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, said: “This focused week of action is about police activity against knife crime, but we also spend a lot of time engaging with young people and wider communities. We aim to educate them on the laws around carrying knives and the dangers and potential impacts of doing so.
“Knife crime impacts not only the individuals involved, but their families, friends and wider community. It’s truly devastating when an incident occurs so I urge anyone thinking about carrying a knife to reconsider as, in a brief moment, your life can be changed forever.
"Approximately 1% of Lancashire crimes during 2021 related to knife crime, which is lower than other areas, and hospital admissions in Lancashire for knife related injuries are lower than at their peak in 2020. Knife and violent crime are a priority and we continue to work together with partners to tackle the root causes of serious violence so that we can keep people and communities safe.”
During the last Operation Sceptre, more than 950 weapons were taken off Lancashire’s streets and 77 people arrested.
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