Two three foot Samurai swords and a medieval flail with spiked metal balls on a chain among terrifying knife amnesty haul in New Forest

• Knife 'amnesty' bins were placed across Hampshire for weapon disposal

By Megan Howe[1]

Published: 09:58, 12 December 2023 | Updated: 10:16, 12 December 2023

Three foot Samurai swords, a triple mace ball flail and a curved scythe are among the 533 weapons handed in to police in the New Forest.

It comes as Hampshire and Dorset officers took part in the national 'no questions asked' campaign to crackdown on knife crime[2].

Operation Sceptre takes place twice a year, co-ordinated by the National Police Chief's Council, to raise awareness of ways to prevent, reduce and prevent knife crime.

Knife 'amnesty' bins are placed in various locations where people can anonymously dispose of the weapons.

Pictured: The amnesty bin where people can anonymously dispose of weapons

Hampshire Constabulary Chief Supt Clare Jenkins said 'The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 introduced tough new measures to strengthen law enforcement's response to violent crime.

'The act makes it illegal to possess dangerous weapons in private, including knuckledusters, zombie knives and death star knives, and you will soon have to verify you are over 18 to buy bladed items from the internet.

'These figures for surrendered knives and weapons may sound alarming to the public, but I'd like to offer reassurance that we are tackling knife crime with a zero-tolerance attitude, and the education and awareness of the updated law will have had a large influence on this.'

Three foot Samurai swords, a triple mace ball flail and a curved scythe are among the 533 weapons handed in to police

Officers made 14 knife-related crime arrests as part of the campaign and conducted eight weapons sweeps, according to New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times[3].

They executed four stop and searches and visited 17 addresses, as well as one retailer.

The amnesty bins will continue to be stationed at various locations until 18th December.

Police urged parents and care givers to be aware of what packages are being sent to young people at home, and educate them about the dangers of carrying weapons.

School assemblies were carried out as part of the initiative, which addressed the common misconceptions around knife crime.

Chief Supt Heather Dixey added: 'An important part of our work, in addition to the enforcement work we do, is prevention.

'Some young people carry a knife because they think it will make them safer, but carrying a knife can actually make them more vulnerable.

'We have been very proactive in providing education and engagement opportunities to local schools and discussing these common misconceptions around knife crime.'

References

1. ^ Megan Howe (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ crime (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times (www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk)