Blitz on Blades

Until June 30, people have the chance to bin their knives and avoid prosecution.

Every police force in the country is taking part in the knife amnesty, which is designed to take knives and offensive weapons out of circulation and make communities safer.

But how effective will the national knife amnesty be?

In the same week that teenage footballer Kiyan Prince was knifed to death outside his school in London, Wallasey man Alec McFadden was viciously attacked with a knife in his own home, while his young children watched in horror.

Now making a slow recovery, Alec fully supports the knife amnesty but only as part of an ongoing campaign.

"If this is a one-off amnesty, then it's a total waste of time," he told the Globe.

"But if it is the start of an ongoing campaign, then I think it's brilliant and the TUC will work closely with schools, police and the community to try and combat this type of crime.

"However, it's not just about knife crime. There appears to be something fundamentally wrong with our society. I am not interested in issuing draconian sentences, but instead solving the cause of the problems to begin with. A lot of these problems stem from alcohol misuse and it seems to be getting worse.

"We need to focus on education in schools and parents need to take more responsibility for their children. I also support the installation of metal detectors in all schools."

The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers are now encouraging people to dispose of their knives in specially designed secure red wheelie bins.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "The message of this campaign is simple - if you think you're protecting yourself by carrying a knife, you're not.

"Every weapon handed in is a weapon that can't be used in crime. I want to see people recognising the dangers of carrying a knife and using this opportunity to dispose of it before the police take action against them.

"Ordinary law-abiding citizens don't want to see their communities blighted by violence. Neither do we. We are working across Government to reduce crime and reduce the fear of crime through legislation, law enforcement and closer working with communities. The knife amnesty will help us achieve that."

Ian Johnston, Chief Constable of British Transport Police, added: "People have been seriously injured or killed by knives in circumstances where those convicted state they had no intention of hurting anyone. Our message is simple - don't carry knives for protection.

"We want to take as many knives off the street as possible. During the campaign, we'll also be targeting operations to identify those carrying knives with a view to prosecuting them. Help us to help you make our communities safer. Taking knives out of circulation will definitely contribute to this."

The police will continue to carry out intelligence-led enforcement work to crack down on knife carrying and knife assisted crime. Only those people carrying knives to bins will be immune from prosecution.

Carrying knives is illegal and can result in up to four years in prison. However, buying knives of all shapes and sizes is still a relatively easy practice. The knife in our main picture was bought over the counter at a shop in Birkenhead with very few questions asked.

Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford believes that restrictions on the sale of knives are important in tackling the problem of knife-related crime.

"We know that knives are a necessary part of day to day life, but the more we can restrict availability and reduce the possibility of them falling into the wrong hands, the better," he said.

"Please do the right thing for your community, stop carrying knives and hand any you have over to the police.

"Remember this is a chance for you to come clean - but it is only for a limited time."

Amnesty bins can be found at the following police stations: Bromborough Well Lane Laird Street Upton Birkenhead Wallasey Moreton Hoylake Heswall Raffles Road, Mobile Police Station