Knife crime fight continues with weapons amnesty

Police have launched a week-long amnesty to give people a chance to surrender weapons including knives and machetes.

Weapon bins have been placed at police stations across Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough's Thorpe Wood station and Parkside station in Cambridge.

As part of the amnesty, officers and police cadets will be visiting schools across the county, conducting extra patrols in "hotspot" areas - targeting those believed to be carrying knives.

In the past year, possession of weapons offences in Cambridgeshire fell by 7%, but Insp Karl Secker said the force did not want to be complacent.

It is currently illegal to sell a knife to under-18s, carry a knife in public without good reason - and use any knife in a threatening way, including a Swiss Army device.

The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5,000.

A previous amnesty held in May saw about 150 large knives, machetes and other weapons taken off the county's streets.

This followed a government compensation scheme in September where people were encouraged to surrender “zombie-style” weapons before they were made illegal.

Cambridgeshire Police said 19 zombie knives were handed in as part of the campaign.

Insp Secker added: "Regular amnesties such as this continue to be part of our ongoing work to combat knife crime in the county.

"I’m pleased that possession of knife offences in Cambridgeshire continue to decrease, but we don’t want to get complacent.

"It’s important we continue our other work in this area, such as speaking to young people at schools about the dangers of knife crime.

"Very few people carry knives in our county. However, if you suspect a friend or family member does, please speak to them about the amnesty and encourage them to do the right thing. By disposing of any weapons, they will actually be safer, as well as removing the risk of being prosecuted."

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