Police knife amnesty: Meat cleaver among items handed in to Shropshire police stations
A cleaver is among the weapons that have been handed in to Shropshire police stations as part of a knife amnesty campaign.
About 40 knives have been surrendered to Shrewsbury Police Station, one of two county drop-off points, as West Mercia Police runs its month-long scheme.
A total of 163 knives, including some swords, have also been handed in at Telford's Malinsgate Police Station.
In September and October, West Mercia Police are supporting the national ongoing knife surrender campaign Operation Sceptre.
The campaign is running for four weeks, and started on September 18.
The aims of the operation are to remove dangerous weapons from the street, reduce knife crime and raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.
The West Mercia policing area, which covers Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, did not have a big knife crime problem but police say they have seen the impact knife crime can have on victims and their families and the wider community.
This is a surrender campaign as opposed to an amnesty, as there will be no immunity from prosecution should information come to light that one of the surrendered weapons may have been used in the commission of an offence.
The knives surrendered will be delivered to the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry where they will be used to build a plinth for a 20-foot high Knife Angel sculpture in memory of those who have lost their life to knife crime.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: "Whilst we are fortunate that knife crimes are rare in our communities, just one incident is one too many, and the consequences can be devastating.
"The knife surrender campaign, is just one of many ways in which West Mercia Police is committed to tackling violent crime. I am committed to ensuring they have the resources to keep our communities safe and secure."
