600 knives handed in under scheme

Police believe the knives could have ended up in the wrong hands

More than 600 knives and weapons have been handed in over the last month to police stations in south Wales, say officers.

The project was due to last two weeks but was extended after 200 weapons were handed in at the start of December.

The haul included martial arts weapons and ceremonial swords.

Chief Supt Josh Jones said there was not a local knife culture but he was encouraged people were acting to stop weapons falling into the wrong hands.

Special red bins were placed in the reception areas of 20 police stations across the force area.

All the 618 knives and weapons handed in will now be destroyed to take them out of circulation.

They include flick knives, butterfly knives, knuckle dusters and kitchen knives.

The initiative was funded by the Home Office as part of the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP), which includes nine other forces across the UK.

Chief Supt Jones said: "When we started the hand in a number of weeks ago, we did not really know what kind of reception it would get from the public.

I would hate for others to have to go through what we have had to endure over the past year Mark Davenport, parent of knife victim

"Clearly, the high profile coverage, for which we would like to thank the media, did have an impact on people because so many have used the opportunity to take personal responsibility for the dangerous objects they know of, by discarding them for good.

"I am in no doubt that many of these knives were unlikely to ever have been used for violence, but equally I am sure that a good number of them could well have ended up or been in the wrong hands."

He added: "What is so encouraging for me is that people are not prepared to sit back and wait for the problem to develop before acting. For that I commend everyone who has taken part."

Mark Davenport, the father of a teenager who nearly lost his life when he was stabbed earlier on this year, helped launch the initiative in November.

His son Kevin, 16, was stabbed an inch to the left of his heart by a 15 year old boy as he rode his bike through Cardiff city centre in July.

Slight rise

Mr Davenport said: "My son very nearly lost his life. He was attacked by a group of boys and was stabbed in the chest by one of them

He said: "The public have made a clear stand against knife crime in south Wales, and I hope they continue to do so by which ever way they can.

"Knife crime has such a profound effect on me, my son and the rest of my family. The effects are long lasting and irreparable and I would hate for others to have to go through what we have had to endure over the past year."

Crime statistics show a slight rise in knife offences this year in the south Wales force area, compared to 2007, with the proportion of offenders under 17 also slightly increasing.

But police said it still accounted for only around 4% of the most serious violent crime.