A week of action targeting knife crime across Kent saw 31 people arrested but just eight for carrying a blade.

Officers targeted areas in Medway, Maidstone and Thanet, as part of a joint initiative alongside other forces, named Operation Sceptre.

Of those arrested eight were for possessing a bladed article. Ten people were taken into custody for drugs offences and other arrests were made for crimes including public order offences.

Last year, a Freedom of Information request revealed that knife crime in Kent had increased by almost a third in five years and earlier this year, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said Kent Police had recorded over 500 incidents of possession of a weapon in 2015-16.

The operation, launched by the Met Police in July 2015, is aimed at reducing the number of people carrying of knives, knife injuries and fatalities and the illegal sale of knives.

Supt Simon Thompson said: "Although knife crime across the county remains low compared to other areas, it is still very important we tackle those who think it is acceptable to carry knives on our streets.

"Not everyone we stopped was carrying weapons, but people who we believe may be in possession of knives are often linked to other criminality, such as the supply of drugs."

Police used powers which included stop checking suspects and executing search warrants at addresses. Arrests were also linked to offenders travelling into Kent from outside of the county.

Supt Thompson added: "Overall, our message remains very simple. If you choose to carry a knife, you are actually more likely to be a victim of a serious assault. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

"You are also more likely to get arrested, prosecuted and receive a tough punishment. Possession of a knife can carry a prison sentence of up to four years, even if it's not used."

The latest figures show there were 937 recorded offences with knives/sharp instruments in 2014, that's up from 723 in 2010, an increase of around a third.

The week of action, from October 17 to October 23, was the sixth phase of the Met's Operation Sceptre, and saw 23 police forces around the country take part.

The forces outside of London used the same tactics as the Met which included weapon sweeps, intelligence led stop and search as well as proactive operations to tackle those wanted in connection with knife related offences and violent crime.