Cumbria Constabulary is to launch a week-long knife amnesty on Monday aimed at getting illegally held and dangerous knives off our streets.

The amnesty is part of Op Spectre – a national initiative aimed at tackling the rise in knife-related crime throughout the country.

Nationally, recorded offences involving knives or sharp instruments increased 10 per cent from April 2015 to March 2016.

In Cumbria, there were 24 knife crimes recorded for the first quarter of this financial year.

This was a decrease of six, from 30, for the same period the previous year, and it is hoped that this pattern will continue as people surrender their weapons.

From 7am on Monday until midnight on Sunday October 23, people can surrender a knife or any other type of bladed article without fear of prosecution for possession.

Superintendent Mark Pannone of Cumbria Constabulary said: “Thankfully, our county has traditionally seen a low number of knife-related incidents and offences where knives are used in public to cause harm are rare. However, we are beginning to see a concerning increase in such incidents here in Cumbria. “We will not be complacent on this issue. Knives destroy lives and they have no place on our streets.

“If you use a knife we will find you, you will be arrested, charged and can expect to spend a considerable period of time in prison.

“We would urge people to take this opportunity and hand knives in to us anonymously. Doing so will drastically reduce the risk to themselves and their loved ones of coming to harm.”

Officers are keen to tackle the misconception that carrying a knife makes a person safer and less likely to come to harm. In reality, the opposite is true.

Supt Pannone said: “Fear is a common motivator for people who carry knives and there may be people out there who have decided to carry a knife in the mistaken belief they feel safer.

“Research shows that by carrying a knife, you drastically increase your own chances of being victim of a knife attack – potentially with the very knife in your possession. “Our message is simple - Cumbria is one of the safest places to live in the country and there is no justification for anyone to be carrying a knife on our streets."

Throughout the amnesty week, anonymous knife surrender bins will be at police stations in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Whitehaven, Barrow and Kendal. The bins will allow people to surrender bladed articles to the police without fear of being prosecuted for a possession offence.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall said: “Thankfully, knife crime in Cumbria is relatively low. However, we mustn’t be complacent and I would urge people to come forward and use the amnesty to hand-in any offence weapons. If you know of anyone with such a weapon, please urge them to take part in the amnesty. It is only by us all working together that we will keep the streets of Cumbria safe.”