Machetes and knuckledusters surrendered during Wiltshire knife amnesty

A total of 450 knives - including machetes - were handed in to Wiltshire Police during a two-week knife amnesty.

Among them were hunting knives, kitchen knives, samurai swords and knuckledusters.

Bins were located in police stations, churches and community centres across the county, with people able to dispose of weapons without fear of prosecution.

Knife crime is relatively low in Wiltshire when compared with the rest of the country, but incidents are on the rise nationally and in other parts of the South West.

Gloucestershire's knife amnesty ended with more than 300 bladed items and four shotguns surrendered over the two-week period.

Across the Avon and Somerset force area, 127 knives were given up over one week.

"Young people hear about it on the news, they talk about it at school, and we know some, because they tell us, would carry a knife for protection," said Assistant Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police Debs Smith.

"However, we know carrying a blade means you are more likely to find yourself in a situation where you could get seriously injured or even killed."

Ms Smith added: "My officers will enforce the law; to those who think it is ok to carry a knife and inflict violence in our communities, it's not.

"We will not tolerate this. You will end up facing significant consequences if you continue to carry one.

"We need to get to a position in our communities, within peer groups, and within families where carrying a knife or blade is not just frowned upon, it is seen as completely unacceptable."

As part of the knife amnesty campaign, officers from Wiltshire Police also carried out a raid at a house in Swindon and arrested three people.

They seized illegal drugs, drugs paraphernalia, mobile phones, stolen motorbikes, and four large knives at the property in Pinehurst.

A 46-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, possession of cannabis, possession of an offensive weapon and handling stolen goods.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of an offensive weapon.

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a shotgun without certificate and three counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

The two men have been released on conditional bail while police enquiries continue. The woman was released under investigation.