Police seize 45 knives and bladed items

Officers visited public spaces, schools and businesses across Kent

A total of 45 knives and bladed items were seized by police in Kent in one week as part of an initiative to tackle knife crime.

Kent Police carried out weapon sweeps in parks and public places while knife arches were also set up to detect them.

Officers met with students from 35 schools across the county and visited businesses to discuss measures to verify a customer's age when buying a knife.

Insp James Ross said: "Tackling knife crime in Kent is about so much more than seizing knives and making arrests."

He added: "It’s also about understanding the reasons behind carrying a knife, and how we can influence this - equipping people with the facts and empowering them to make better choices."

Mr Ross explained that police wanted to to help those carrying knives understand the weapons did not keep them safe.