Nearly 400 knives surrendered in week-long amnesty

Police have placed permanent knife amnesty bins across the force area

Nearly 400 knives have been handed in to a police force during a week-long amnesty.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) said 394 knives were placed in amnesty bins in the force area during Operation Sceptre, which ran from 13 to 19 May.

It said 76 knife-related arrests were made and officers carried out 148 stop searches during the week of action.

Permanent knife surrender bins have been installed in public spaces and police stations across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

During Operation Sceptre, officers also delivered nearly 150 educational talks and carried out 67 test purchase operations across the force area.

Insp Alex Penn said: "It is through both early intervention and targeted policing activity that we can work together to address the root causes of violence and use preventive initiatives to divert people from crime.”