Amnesty sees 50 knives handed in

A variety of weapons were seized by police in the county this year

More than 50 knives have been handed in to police during the first week of a weapons amnesty in Pembrokeshire.

People have been urged to hand weapons into the county's police stations without fear of prosecution.

It follows a number of stabbings which have seen two men jailed for separate attacks, two people injured at the Pembrokeshire Show and two at a pub.

Officers are also increasing patrols and spot-checks during the month-long campaign which runs until 6 January.

So far the amnesty, which began last week, has seen more than 50 knives and two BB guns handed in.

Ch Insp Steve Matchett said the idea was to take the weapons out of circulation.

"We are aware there have been a number of incidents recently involving knives and one of the ways we are tackling this issue is with the knife amnesty," he said.

"We are also increasing patrols and anyone found carrying an offensive weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse will be arrested."

Jail terms

In July, Mark Campbell from Glasgow was jailed for a minimum of 18 years after he admitted stabbing soldier L/Cpl Kinnon Arrigo Ragni to death close to Minnie's nightclub in Haverfordwest.

Mark Campbell and Kelvin Bull-De'ath are in jail

The court heard he was thrown out of the venue after asking a group of soldiers for drugs but waited outside with a 10-inch blade and stabbed Mr Ragni six times.

In October, former nurse Kelvin Bull-De'ath was jailed for 11 years for attempted murder after stabbing his ex-partner Marion Powell at her home in Pembroke Dock.

In other incidents this year two men were stabbed at Pembrokeshire Show in August, two people were wounded at a pub in Fishguard and another man has been charged with the attempted murder of a couple at a farmhouse at Llanddewi Velfrey.

Appealing to the public for help with the amnesty, Mr Matchett added: "We are doing all we can to tackle this issue but we also need your help.

"If you have a knife or know someone who carries one, please do the right thing and bring it to the bins at the police station.

"We are not looking to prosecute people - we would be thankful for having one less knife on the streets of Pembrokeshire."

Knives can be handed at six police stations: Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard, Tenby, Milford Haven and Narberth.