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More than 80% of knives handed in as part of a Gwent-wide knife amnesty campaign were handed in at Blackwood Police Station.

In total, 22 knives were handed in across Gwent as part of a week-long knife crime awareness campaign – 18 of which were surrendered at Blackwood.

Between April 26 and May 2, Gwent Police took part in Operation Sceptre – a UK-wide campaign to tackle knife crime.

The campaign aimed to encourage people in possession of dangerous weapons to get rid of them anonymously – and without the risk of prosecution – by disposing them at knife amnesty bins across the Gwent Police force area.

Police set up amnesty bins at police stations in Blackwood, Ebbw Vale, Newport, Cwmbran and Monmouth.

During the campaign, school liaison officers visited schools to speak with pupils about the danger of carrying knives.

Superintendent Glyn Fernquest, of Gwent Police, said: “Knife crime can have devastating consequences. Operations such as this are a snapshot of the work that we carry out all year round to take weapons from our streets and keep our communities safe. 

“Knife crime remains rare for the majority of our communities, but it has risen nationally and as a force, we are no exception to that.

“As part of daily policing, our officers conduct intelligence lead stop-search powers to target those who may commit violent crime.”

He added: “I want to reassure communities that anyone caught carrying a knife, no matter the reason, we will stop them, search them, seize the weapon and deal with them proportionally through the criminal justice system. Every knife taken off the streets is another life potentially saved.

“If anyone has any information about individuals involved in knife crime or has any concerns, please call Gwent police on 101 or direct message us via Facebook or Twitter.

“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.”