DEVON and Cornwall Police is raising awareness of knife-carrying and knife crime as part of a national campaign. 

The campaign, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), runs from Monday, May 13 to Sunday, May 19. 

Officers will be using “knife arches” in schools, colleges and public spaces; checking local shops are selling knives legally; and providing knife-surrender bins at police stations with public enquiry offices. 

“We encourage anyone carrying a knife to surrender it to their local police station,” DCI Steve Fleetwood said. 

“We won’t ask questions and you won’t be arrested, we just want to keep our communities safe.  

“Use of the knife arch as an engagement tool, along with test purchases with retailers and the provision of knife surrender bins are just some of the ways we are preventing and reducing knife crime. 

“Knife crime is not a big problem in Devon and Cornwall, but we remain active in preventing knife crime, doing all we can to remove knives from our streets and pursue those who choose to carry them and commit offences.” 

If you have any information or concerns about someone carrying a knife, you can report it to Devon and Cornwall Police online. 

You can also report information anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111.