A WEEK-long knife amnesty across Cumbria begins tomorrow (Tuesday).

Cumbria Constabulary is holding a knife surrender as part of Operation Sceptre, a campaign held across forces nationally to tackle knife crime.

During this time members of the public will be able to anonymously han -in unwanted knives, including those which are prohibited, to amnesty bins at police station front counters, including at Barrow.

Although Cumbria continues to see a lower number of offences than other areas of the UK, 149 were recorded during 2017 where a knife or other sharp implement was used to injure or threaten a person.

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 will take this opportunity to surrender their weapon and dispose of it safely.”

Superintendent Mark Pannone encouraged anyone with a knife they wanted to dispose of to hand it in.

“In recent surrender periods we have seen large numbers of people take the opportunity to make their communities safer,” he said.

“Fortunately 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.”

Anyone wishing to hand knives in should put them in a box or strong bag.