A KNIFE amnesty campaign is being supported by Cleveland Police - which last year saw eight attempted murders involving a blade.

The force reported last year that knives were used in 381 assaults resulting in injury, 39 threats to kill, 96 robberies and 489 cases of vehicles being damaged.

A knife amnesty under the name of Operation Sceptre saw 106 knives and sharp objects surrendered to police during a week-long campaign last year.

The force hopes to encourage would-be criminals to hand over offensive weapons without facing prosecution until Monday, May 8.

Sergeant Vince Wood said: “Knives and sharp objects can be deadly if weapons are in the wrong hands and this campaign is an excellent way to encourage people to surrender their bladed or offensive weapons anonymously.

“The aim of this campaign is to reduce the opportunity of violent crime taking place, to keep our communities safe and keep people from harm.

“Last year’s amnesty was extremely successful and this year we would like more people to hand in their sharp objects and knives safely in the designated knife bins.”

Knife bins will be available at Cleveland Police’s Middlesbrough, Stockton, Kirkleatham and Hartlepool stations between 8am and 8pm.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Barry Coppinger, added: “I’ve always supported this campaign and firmly believe that our communities will be much safer if people take the opportunity to surrender their knives and sharp objects to keep them off our streets.”

  • Any information on knife crime can be reported via non-emergency number 101.