Suffolk police boss concerned knife crime becoming more extreme
Suffolk is one of many forces taking part in Operation Sceptre this week
Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner says more research needs to be done to identify why people think they need to carry knives.
It comes as the force is one of many across the country getting involved in Operation Sceptre this week - which is a national crackdown on knife crime.
Tim Passmore has been telling us more: "What we're trying to do is to highlight to everybody, but particularly for young people, that knife crime, stabbings and some of these awful, tragic consequences that are the result of the inappropriate use of knives and weapons, can have devastating consequences.
"And we just need to get it stopped.
"Here in Suffolk, we've got nine knife amnesty bins and they are available outside police stations and other prominent locations throughout the whole of Suffolk to encourage people if they find, or have perhaps been using or carrying a sharp-bladed weapon, please hand them in.
"The message here is that carrying a knife or sharp-bladed instrument does not make you safer. It encourages retaliation."
Education is key
Commissioner Tim Passmore told us he believes there should be more education around knives, even speaking to primary school children: "The other part of it is to really focus on the education side of it, particularly with young people. To point out the extra risks of carrying a knife.
"That it isn't acceptable. Violence doesn't solve anything. Any sort of violence is not the answer.
"Whatever their difficulties are. You do that (solve the issues) with civilized conversations and discussion, but don't carry a knife.
"So here in Suffolk I think it's important that this sort of education and raising the profile of the consequences even starts at primary schools.
"One thing I think has got to be improved, is that message needs to be repeated regularly throughout the year. So that we eventually get to the stage where the incidence of knife crime is reduced and we come up with other alternatives to solve it."
Why do people carry knives?
Tim also wants there to be more research into why people are carrying knives: "But I think we need to try and work out more, do some more research. What is it that causes people to carry a knife around? Why do they think it keeps them safer?
"And once you understand that side of it, then I think we can start to put things in place more effectively to try and prevent it...I think there are gonna be other lessons that come out of that side.
"Research into this to find out what are the socioeconomic difficulties, challenges... So let's look at the causes. And I suspect they're going to be complex and very varied as well. But at least (we would) having a better understanding (that) will help us allocate resources and put prevention measures in place.