People able to hand in knives to police without fear of prosecution

PEOPLE are able to hand in knives without fear of prosecution this week as part of a police campaign.

The aim of the week, which runs until Sunday, May 2, is to increase awareness about the dangers of carrying knives and the laws around buying and selling blades.

The action is part Operation Sceptre.

Knife amnesty bins will also be placed at police stations across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and the wider force area, knives and of for people to hand knives or blades.

The force also wants people to know how to safely dispose of knives and blades outside the amnesty period, and to urge anyone involved in a household clearance, or those who would consider over leaving knives at a charity shop, to instead take them to a recycling centre for safe disposal.

Inspector Andrew Williams said: “Dyfed-powys remains a safe place to live, work and visit, and thankfully we don’t face the level of knife crime other areas see. For this campaign we are focusing on keeping knives that could travel to other areas out of criminal hands.”

The force is also encouraging a common sense approach to selling knives and blades, and will be offering advice on when a knife can legally be carried as part of someone’s work.

Insp Williams added: “Many types of blades are legal to sell, but have a questionable purpose. We will be working with retailers to discuss the law, and what is sensible.”

For information on the laws around knife crime, and when it is legal to carry a knife, visit the Dyfed-powys Police website at https://www.dyfedpowys.police.uk/news/ dyfed-powys/news/2021/ april-2021/op-sceptrehow-to-get-rid-of-an-oldknife/