AVON and Somerset Police is starting a week-long crackdown on knife crime across the county.

Starting today, October 17, the force will be joining Operation Sceptre, the national initiative to tackle knife crime, using a range of different tactics including education, targeted patrols of hotspot areas, amnesty bins and test purchase exercises.

From 2014-2015, Avon and Somerset Police saw a 14 per cent increase in knife crime.

Of the people found to be carrying knives, 19 per cent were 17-years-old or under, and 23 per cent were aged between 18 and 24-years-old.

Force lead on knife crime, Chief Inspector Zoe Chegwyn, said: “That’s why we are focussing much of our work on education – going into schools and delivering hard hitting workshops which really bring home the impact knives can have not just on individuals, but on families and communities. We need to understand why young people are carrying knives and work to dispel the myth that knives are somehow cool.

“We also want to let young people know that if they are worried that someone they know is carrying a knife, but are nervous about talking to the police, that they can contact Fearless (the Crimestoppers youth arm) anonymously and potentially help to save a life.”

During the week, amnesty bins will be in place at Bridgwater Police Centre and Taunton Police Station for people to drop off their knives.

Over the weekend, police cadets across the force took part in a test purchasing exercise to ensure that retailers are complying with the law, which makes it illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18-years-old.

The cadets visited a range of different retailers, including outdoor and army supply shops and attempted to buy a knife. In total they visited 13 stores across the force area. Six shops passed the test and refused to sell a knife to the undercover cadet. However, seven of the shops tested failed, and sold a knife to a person under 18.