Every once in a while the police carry our amnesties, whether it be a gun or knife amnesty.
The point of these amnesties is to get weapons off the streets and to make Devon and Cornwall a safer place to live.
Torquay Knife Amnesty
From Tuesday 18th – Friday 21st September 2018, members of the public across Devon and Cornwall can dispose of unwanted knifes.
You may also discard unwanted bladed items without fear of prosecution.
Some police front offices will be open on Saturday 22nd, so please ensure you check before you travel.
Illegal Knifes
The amnesty will allow the public to dispose of knives, swords, kitchen knives and illegal knives including “zombie” knives, illegal lock knives and even unwanted knives.
You can also get rid of any kind of replicas and ceremonial items if they are of no use.
Wider Operation
Devon & Cornwall Police are supporting a national week of action instigated as part of an ongoing Home Office Operation.
Operate Sceptre which has the national aims of combating knife crime and raising awareness about it.
The majority of all police stations will have collection bins located inside which will enable the public to deposit knives anonymously.
Police stations taking part in Torbay & Teignbridge include:
- Torquay, South Street
Superintendent, Matt Lawler, Local Policing Commander for Exeter, East & Mid Devon said:
Here in Devon and Cornwall we do not have the extent of knife crime reported in some major metropolitan areas of the country.
However we are supporting this weeks’ national knife amnesty as part of our ongoing local approach to focussing upon prevention.
Carrying a knife or bladed article is not only illegal but incredibly dangerous.
Our message is therefore simple: No good can come from carrying a knife.
Figures have shown, that in the first 6 months of 2018 some 226 stop-searches were recorded as primarily looking for weapons.
This is up from 193 in the same period in 2017.
Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez said:
There is absolutely no reason why people should be carrying knives.
This amnesty gives people the chance to think carefully about whether they want to carry a weapon that would land them with a serious penalty.
Carrying a knife or any kind of bladed item can land you in prison for up to 4 years and an unlimited fine.
