IN AN attempt to cut down on violent crime, people in Kent are being urged to hand over knives during the next month.

As part of a nationwide amnesty, special red bins will be provided around the county between May 24 and June 30 so that people can get rid of knives and other potentially lethal weapons with no questions being asked.

Kent Police's assistant chief constable Dave Ainsworth said: "We want to reduce the number of knives and lethal weapons on our streets that are designed to kill or maim.

"If you think you are carrying a knife, of whatever kind, for protection it is an illegal act and it could lead to tragedy or be turned on you.

"Every weapon handed in during the amnesty will be a weapon that cannot be used in crime. Knives can damage and destroy lives, leaving families and communities devastated."

The last knife amnesty in 1996 saw 38,000 knives handed in across England and Wales.

Posters warning of the dangers of knives will be displayed, while flyers telling pupils of the dangers are being distributed to schools across Kent and Medway.

Once the amnesty period is over officers will robustly enforce the law and anyone found carrying an offensive weapon in a public place could face up to six months imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine.

Insp Ken Elmes, from Thanet’s Crime Reduction Unit, said: “We need to educate people that knives are not fashionable to carry around, they are dangerous and illegal to have in public.

“Even though you may have no intention of using a knife in your possession, you cannot necessarily stop it getting into the wrong hands, or even being used on yourself. Any knives we can take out of circulation will make our streets safer.

“But remember that the amnesty doesn’t mean you can carry weapons around this month with immunity. If we find people carrying knives and weapons we will arrest them, unless they are on their way to the police station to get rid of them.”