Fenland urged to support knife amnesty

A knife amnesty is being held this week to help tackle a rise in offences.

Cambridgeshire Police is running a week-long initiative after seeing a 10 percent increase in offences involving the possession of a knife in 2018/19.

People will be able to hand in a knife without fear of prosecution at two surrender bins in Thorpe Wood Police Station, Peterborough, and Parkside in Cambridge.

Officers will be visiting schools to talk about knife crime and test purchases, where youngsters under the age 18 will attempt to buy a knife, will be carried out at shops.

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

Insp Matt Snow said: “Knives ruin lives and it’s important we are doing all we can to tackle the issue. Please make use of the knife surrender bins next week – you could save a life.

“I’d urge the family and friends of people who carry knives to encourage them to make use of the amnesty.

"Even if you feel the person would never actually use the weapon, by disposing of it you completely eliminate that risk and you could be preventing them from being prosecuted."