MORE than 160 knives have been taken off the streets of Avon and Somerset during a police operation.

Officers carried out a range of enforcement and engagement activity to encourage people not to carry knives or get involved in serious violence as part of the national policing week of action, Operation Sceptre.

School visits, weapons sweeps searching undergrowth and public spaces for discarded or hidden knives and installing community bleed kits were among the actions that took place.

Results included:

  • 59 weapon sweeps recovering two knives;
  • 156 knives recovered from 13 weapon surrender bins;
  • 14 stop and searches carried out seizing two knives;
  • 14 knife-related arrests, seizing four knives;
  • 32 community engagement and awareness events;
  • 83 school engagements, delivering knife-crime awareness sessions;
  • 11 diversion visits to youths identified and linked to carrying knives;
  • 36 retailer visits advising of laws and safety around knife sales;
  • Three new community bleed kits installed.

Chief Inspector Mike Vass said: “We’ve been working hard across the whole of Avon and Somerset to raise awareness and education on the danger and harm of knife crime, in particular focussing on a drive to encourage young people to stop carrying knives on them in public.

"Carrying a knife does not keep you safe and I would just urge any young person in our area who is considering taking a knife out on to the streets with them to please think twice.

“This work goes on all year round for us and we rely on our communities and our partners to work together to help us tackle the devastating effects knife crime can have.

"By building these community links and visibility around the work we are doing, we hope that we can deter more people from becoming involved in knife crime or serious violence.”

There are a number of weapon surrender bins across the force area in an initiative led by Avon and Somerset Police to take knives off the streets and prevent harm from occurring.

To find out where these are situated and more on how to protect yourself or others from knife crime, visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/protect-yourself-and-others-from-knife-crime/.

If you are concerned someone you know may be carrying a knife, you can report it into the police either online or by calling 101.

Alternatively, you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, always dial 999.