A FOUR week campaign to reduce knife crime has seen an astonishing 142 knives handed in at Redditch police station - the second highest in the county.

The campaign, which ended on Monday, October 16 gave anyone with a knife the opportunity to surrender it anonymously at police stations around the region.

It was part of Operation Sceptre, a national campaign to reduce knife crime and the number of families affected by knife crime.

Chief Inspector Sharon Canning said the streets are a safer place following this campaign.

Redditch Advertiser:

"Each knife surrendered represents one less chance of another life being ended or ruined by knife crime," she said.

"As well as taking more than 600 knives off the streets this operation has also given us the opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and the risk of carrying a knife. Hopefully, in future, people will think twice about carrying a knife."

All the knives surrendered in Redditch will be delivered to the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry where they will be used to build a plinth for a 20-foot high guardian angel sculpture in memory of those who have lost their life to knife crime.