Knife offences in Gwent have more than doubled in the last four years, the latest figures show.
Gwent Police investigated 112 offences involving a knife or a sharp weapon between April 2017 and March 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics.
That is a 107% increase since 2013/14, when there were 54 cases, and a 16% rise over the last year.
There are 19 knife offences per 100,000 people in Gwent, lower than the national average.
Britain’s top police officer, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick, has said there is a link between falling officer numbers and a rise in violent crime – a claim rejected by the Prime Minister.
In Gwent Police, officer numbers have dropped by 12% over the last decade.
Home Office data shows the force had 1,329 officers in September last year, compared with 1,508 in September 2010.
• A knife amnesty bin has been placed at Blackwood Police Station in an attempt to reduce knife crime.
Gwent Police announced that six such bins will be located at stations across its area as part of Operation Sceptre, which is part of a wider national campaign.
Officers will also be increasing the use of their stop and search powers as they attempt to combat the issue.
Superintendent Glyn Fernquest said “Crimes involving knives area rare in Gwent, but this surrender shows that we take positive action to try and prevent offences by removing them before any harm is caused.
“I hope this surrender is an opportunity to cleanse our streets of these weapons. If you know a friend or family member who carries a knife or any bladed weapon, urge them to surrender it in one of our bins.
“Every knife handed in is one less that can potentially be used on the streets of Gwent.”