Arrests during early morning knife crime raids

Eight people were arrested, five of whom face questioning over knife-related crimes

Eight people have been arrested during early morning raids aimed at tackling knife crime.

Cleveland Police took part in a "day of action" in response to a number of incidents of serious violence in recent weeks.

The force has the third highest rate of knife crime in England and Wales, recording 794 knife crimes in the last year, a spokesperson said.

Teams raided properties in Stockton and a number of knives were found along with quantities of drugs.

Det Ch Insp Stuart Hodgson said a third of serious violence offences in the police force area involved young people under the age of 24.

He said: "Some people are carrying knives due to peer pressure, some people are carrying them due to fear."

Det Ch Insp Stuart Hodgson said the force would "always act" on intelligence from the community

It was made illegal to possess "zombie-style" knives and machetes in England and Wales last week.

Mr Hodgson said carrying a knife makes people more likely to come to harm because "if people know that you're carrying a knife, they're more likely to carry a knife as well".

Knives were seized during early-morning raids in Stockton

Five people were arrested on suspicion of knife-related offences, including robberies where a machete was reportedly carried.

Police made further arrests in relation to drug offences and breaching bail conditions.

At one property, class B drugs, three knives, a baseball bat and a stab proof vest were seized.