Lancashire police launch knife amnesty

From Monday people will be able to had their knives in at 10 police stations county-wide, no questions asked.

Between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2014 there were 3712 offences involving knives across Lancashire, including 612 offences of possessing an article with a blade or point, 459 knife-related public order offences and 321 woundings.

And while knife crime is falling in Lancashire – down to 845 recorded offences county-wide in 2013 from 1004 in 2011 - officers are keen to stress no one should be armed with a knife on Lancashire’s streets, and the consequences of carrying one could be devastating.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Bates said: “We do not have a massive problem with knife crime in Lancashire, but a knife is a lethal weapon and even one on Lancashire’s streets is one too many.

“This amnesty has been launched to proactively remove those weapons from our communities, and help to keep everyone safe.

“I want to appeal to youngsters who may be tempted to carry a knife because they believe it offers them protection – don’t. Not only is being in possession of a knife in a public place a criminal offence, but nationally seven out of 10 knife injuries among young people are caused as a result of the victim being stabbed with their own weapon.”

The 10 amnesty bins at stations including Preston and Chorley have been funded by Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, using money seized through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).