A KNIFE surrender is being held across Cumbria this week (February 12-18) in a bid to make the county safer.

In Cumbria, there were 149 offences recorded during 2017 where a knife or other sharp implement was used to injure or threaten a person and 128 possession offences were recorded.

Superintendent Mark Pannone said: “In recent surrender periods we have seen large numbers of people take the opportunity to make their communities safer by handing in knives.

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“Fortunately in Cumbria we do not have a specific knife-crime culture and we continue to see a lower number of incidents than in other areas of the UK. However there are people who will use knives as part of criminality and I can reassure members of the public that this will not be tolerated.

“Despite the low numbers the Constabulary is not complacent and there is a lot of work that is conducted to reduce the impact knives can have. Officers and PCSOs hold regular sessions with schools and youth groups to educate young people on the danger of knives and also dispel the myth that carrying a knife is good for their reputation.

"Every knife that is handed into police is one less knife that cannot be used in criminality. I would encourage anyone who has a knife that they want to safely dispose of to take this opportunity to do so.”

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “We have seen the appalling results of knife crime in London and other cities recently with tragic deaths and injuries, no one is a winner and government are looking to increase penalties for those involved. Knife crime destroys lives. There is no circumstance where carrying a knife as a weapon is acceptable and, while some people wrongly perceive that a knife offers them some kind of protection, in reality it only serves to make them more vulnerable while placing those around them at greater risk.

“Every knife surrendered is one less that can cause death, destruction and misery so I hope anyone who owns a knife – young or old – will take this opportunity to surrender their weapon and dispose of it safely."

Knife surrender bins will be available at the following police stations:

North

• Carlisle

• Penrith

South

• Barrow

• Kendal

West

• Whitehaven

• Workington

Anyone wishing to hand knives in should put them in a box or strong bag. Advice is never attempt to take an uncovered knife out in public and go directly to a designated station when handing in a knife.

To check on opening times please visit: www.cumbria.police.uk/contact-us/police-stations.