Wiltshire Police has started a two-week crackdown on knife crime and is encouraging to people to surrender their blades.

As part of the national Operation Sceptre initiative, the county’s officers will be engaging with communities, working with young people to dispel myths around knives, and carrying out test purchases with retailers in a bid to stop people carrying the sharp and deadly weapons.

Knives can be surrendered at several places around the county. The police force hopes this operation will showcase the ways in which it is working to reduce knife crime and tackle violence, from the root cause to enforcement.

Neighbourhood inspector for Swindon, David Tippetts, said: “Since its launch in 2015, Operation Sceptre has galvanised activity, dedicating a week to intensified activity twice a year.

“This doesn’t mean we only look at this twice a year, but Sceptre is an opportunity to really focus on our efforts to tackle knife crime at a number of levels – from engaging with young people in schools to proactive patrols and knife sweeps.

“This time around, we will be running a knife surrender campaign across two weeks, where people around Swindon and the county will be encouraged to hand in knives and bladed weapons they are carrying.

“By carrying a knife, you are putting yourself and the people around you, such as your family and friends, at risk, and making different decisions – while often the hardest thing to do – is the safest.

“As ever, partnership working is integral to our approach and this week will also shine a spotlight on the many initiatives where Wiltshire Police joins charities and local organisations to bring real change for our communities.

“This is an ongoing mission and one which needs collective ambition, energy and patience.”

Knife surrender bins will be at Amesbury Baptist Church, Calne Town Council, Monkton Park in Chippenham, St James Church in Devizes, police stations in Melksham, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Swindon, Christ Church and Pinetrees Community Centre in Swindon, St James Church in Trowbridge and Warminster Civic Centre.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson added: “The dangers of carrying a knife and the consequences being life changing and sometimes tragic cannot be over emphasised.

“The proactive work of Wiltshire Police to maintain a highly visible presence in areas where there are concerns around knife crime, underpins the Chief Constable’s priority of creating safe public spaces and my priority of reducing violence and serious harm.

“But this work needs to be supported by our early intervention team along with schools, charities, community groups, our local councils and the health service to ensure the education about the dangers of carrying a knife reaches beyond the classroom.”

Call police on 101, visit wiltshire.police.uk, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.