The Police and Crime commissioner in Peterborough says he'll continue to fight against knife crime

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough says he won't give up on tackling knife crime.

It's as a weapons amnesty is taking place in the area to allow people to hand in knives and other items to police without prosecution.

As well as knives, people can surrender items such as knuckledusters, extendable batons, curved swords and zombie weapons that have been made illegal to own.

The week-long initiative started on Monday 11th November with bins at Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough and Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.

If we get any of these weapons off our streets then it's a positive

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Darryl Preston, said:

"If we manage to get any of these weapons off our streets then it's a positive."

"I recognise that alone this isn't a solution, but it is part of the solution."

"Frankly, it's been far too easy for people to be able to buy these dangerous weapons online."

"I think in government we need to have really tight legislation ensuring that people can't buy these easily off the internet as they currently are."

It's been too easy for people to buy these dangerous weapons online

In addition to the weapons amnesty, officers will be visiting multiple schools across the county, conducting extra patrols in “hotspot” areas and targeting those believed to be carrying knives.

The week is being supported by officers, Specials and police cadets.

In the last year, possession of weapons offences in Cambridgeshire decreased by 7%.

The amnesty follows a government compensation scheme in September where people were encouraged to surrender “zombie-style” weapons before they were made illegal.

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

We don’t want to get complacent

Inspector Karl Secker said:

'Regular amnesties such as this continue to be part of our ongoing work to combat knife crime in the county.'

'I’m pleased that possession of knife offences in Cambridgeshire continue to decease, but we don’t want to get complacent.'

'It’s important we continue our other work in this area, such as speaking to young people at schools about the dangers of knife crime.'

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