Knife amnesty at county police stations this week

Cambridgeshire police have launched a knife amnesty after a 37 per cent rise in the use of the weapons across the county.

This week, Operation Sceptre will see amnesty bins placed at police stations across the county for people to hand in their knives.

The move comes after an increase in weapon offences in the county in 2015/16, although the figure remains in line with the rest of the UK.

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

Inspector Mark Rogers said: “The figures for crimes involving offensive weapons remain low and you are very unlikely to be a victim of knife crime, however the rise in incidents is concerning.

“We have a clear message for this campaign – it’s not worth carrying a knife because it could ruin your life. We would urge anyone, including parents and carers, who know someone who carries a knife to encourage them to dispose of it without fear of prosecution.”

Anyone with information should call 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.