Knives handover gets weapons off street

A selection of knives that were handed in during the knife amnesty.

From Monday October 17 to Monday October 31, Lancashire Police held the surrender as part of a national initiative to tackle knife crime and to remove weapons from Lancashire’s streets.

A total of 140 knives were handed in to police.

North Lancashire, including Morecambe, Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde, saw a total of 41 knives handed in while 69 knives were handed in in East Lancashire.

In total, 30 knives were handed in across Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and Skelmersdale.

Officers will now safely dispose of all of the items that were handed in.

Test purchasing operations were also carried out as part of the action against knife crime, with the force using police cadet volunteers to check on businesses selling knives or blades.

The majority of premises across the county were compliant, the few that failed are now working with officers and trading standards to resolve the issues, improve their standards and amend the training that staff receive whilst working for them.

Despite the surrender coming to an end, police say people can continue to hand in any knife at any police station with a front counter.

Chief Inspector Mark Baines said: “We’ve been delighted with the response from our communities throughout the surrender, and it’s really pleasing to see all of the items passed to us are now in safe hands and can’t cause harm to anyone.

“I would still like to appeal to youngsters that carrying a knife doesn’t offer them protection, and not only is being in possession of a knife in a public place a criminal offence, young people are also more likely to be stabbed and seriously injured with their own weapon.

“We don’t want this to happen to anyone in  Lancashire, and you can still hand in a weapon at one of our front counters to dispose of it safely.”

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Knives can be lethal weapons and this type of crime can have devastating  effects on people’s lives.

“I will continue to support projects that help prevent  vulnerable people  becoming involved in  gangs and entering a life of crime. “