Knife amnesty as part of summer crackdown on violent crime in Northamptonshire

The force wants to stop people carrying knives and is asking people to dispose of their knives safely during the amnesty, which starts this week and runs over two weekends from June 17 to June 26.

Anyone wanting to get rid of a knife or any bladed item is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, choose option five and ask for a knife amnesty appointment.

Officers will be available for collections at pre-arranged appointment times, on Friday, June 17, Sunda, June 19, Friday, June 24, and Sunday, June 26, between 7pm and 11pm.

Inspector Adam Ward said: “In the wrong hands a knife is a deadly weapon.

“The amnesty is intended to help make our communities safer by removing knives from our streets and taking potential weapons out of circulation.

“I would urge anyone who wants to dispose of any bladed item which could be used in violent crime, or any other item that could be used to harm, to call us and make an appointment to have them collected by officers.

“As part of the operation, we will also be carrying out additional patrols and employing targeted use of police powers in hot spot areas where we know people may carry knives, as well as visiting those who have previously been in knife crime.

“Officers will also be making reassurance visits to victims of knife crime and giving educational talks to young people about the dangers and consequences of violent crime.”

The amnesty is being run as part of Operation Scorpion, the force’s three-month operation to tackle violence across the county, and is supporting Operation Sceptre, a national initiative to reduce knife crime which was launched by the Met last year.

Anyone who wants to book an amnesty appointment can call Northamptonshire Police on 101.