Tackling knife crime with amnesty bins at Wisbech, March, Ely and Peterborough as part of a national crack down.

Police forces across Cambridgeshire are taking part in Operation Sceptre, allowing members of the public to hand in knives without prosecution. The last amnesty was held in the first week of May and resulted in 105 knives being recovered.

Inspector Ben Newton said: “We’re continuing to join colleagues across the country in a determination to tackle knife crime.

“Knife amnesties form an important part of the strategy for Operation Sceptre and I’m pleased that more than 100 knives were recovered in May. “I hope people will take this additional opportunity to dispose of weapons without fear of prosecution.

“As part of the campaign we’re appealing to people, including parents and carers, who know someone who carries a knife to encourage them to make use of the amnesty.”

From Monday (17) local amnesty bins will be located at:

• Fenland stations March and Wisbech.

• Ely police station.

• Thorpe Wood Police Station and Bayard Place in Peterborough.

• Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.

In the last year from July 2016 to June 2017 there were 220 possession of weapons offences in Cambridgeshire.

Of these, 117 were in Peterborough, 49 in Cambridge and 12 in Wisbech.

It is illegal to:

• Sell a knife of any kind to anyone under 18 years old.

• Carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade three inches long (7.62 cm) or less, eg a Swiss Army knife.

• Carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife

• Use any knife in a threatening way, even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife.

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

If you know someone who carries a knife report anonymously to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed 4.8 million knife crimes were recorded by police in 2016 compared to 4.4 million in 2015.