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From swords to machetes: 300 weapons surrendered to Staffordshire Police

More than 300 weapons including swords, machetes and cut-throat razors were surrendered to police in Staffordshire in less than a month.

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The haul was handed over as part of a four-week campaign by Staffordshire Police, alongside local authorities around the county..

The trove of weapons will now be used as part of a knife angel – a 26ft high sculpture against violence and aggression.

The force set up 18 secure knife bins across the county so they could be deposited anonymously, including at police stations in Stafford, Cannock, Rugeley, Lichfield and Wombourne.

Along with kitchen and sheath knives, people also left ceremonial swords, meat cleavers, machetes, lock knives, knuckle dusters and a barber's razor.

The Bin the Blade campaign was backed by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, who supplied the secure knife bins and who will use the surrendered weapons to add to their angel sculpture.

Chief superintendent Martin Evans, head of local policing for Staffordshire Police, said: "I am pleased with the response we've had to the amnesty; not just in the number of knives handed in but the support shown by partners.

"I'm grateful it isn't just the police saying this, it's partner agencies, it's experts, it's victims, it's the families of victims that are all passing on this strong message.

"The amnesty is one of the things we're doing to raise the awareness of the danger of people carrying knives.

"Carrying a knife doesn't make you safer, in fact it makes you more vulnerable to being a victim of crime.

"It's a very powerful message – carrying knives wrecks lives.

"In the main, Staffordshire and the city of Stoke-on-Trent are safe places to live, work and visit. We will continue to work hard to make the streets safer and take strong action against anyone who carries a knife."

Staffordshire County councillor Gill Heath, cabinet member for communities, said: "We have been working together with the police and a variety of different organisations over the last few weeks to help people understand the dangers of carrying knives and bladed weapons.

"The increase in incidents is a worrying trend, so the more we can do to educate people and encourage them to surrender their knives, the more chance we have of preventing knife crime in future. We're confident it will have had a lasting impact on young people in Staffordshire."

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