Hundreds of weapons off the street after amnesty

KNIVES, SWORDS, MACHETES AND CROSSBOWS HANDED IN ANONYMOUSLY TO THE POLICE

THIS terrifying mace is one of hundreds of weapons taken off the streets.

Almost 400 knives, swords and crossbows were surrendered to police during a weeklong amnesty in County Durham.

Collection bins were set up in 11 stations across the Durham Constabulary force area where members of the public could anonymously drop off bladed items.

And among the frightening haul was this terrifying mace weapon, which could have caused terror and serious injury in the wrong hands.

Other items handed in during Operation Brassen included samurai swords, machetes and crossbows.

Officers said they hoped the amnesty would provide the chance to take potentially-deadly weapons off the streets and raise awareness of the potential harm caused by knife crime.

Det Chief Insp Paul Gray, from Durham Constabulary, said: “I would like to thank everyone for supporting our knife amnesty Operation Brassen, which was held in support of the national Operation Sceptre knife crime awareness campaign. “During the week, we have received almost 400 weapons which people have kindly handed in. I want to reiterate that County Durham and Darlington is a really safe place to live, but with the support of those members of the public who have handed in these knives, this operation has made it even safer.” In all, 381 weapons were handed in, including 314 knives, 22 swords, 14 machetes and 27 penknives.

Some of the more unusual weapons which were surrendered included two crossbows, a First World War American army trench knife with knuckleduster, along with what appears to be an ornamental mace.

All of them will be safely disposed of over the next few