This impressive selection of ceremonial, combat and kitchen knives were among the weapons collected in a knife amnesty at Stevenage police station last week.

The Comet: Knives collected at Stevenage police station during last week's amnesty. Picture: Herts policeKnives collected at Stevenage police station during last week's amnesty. Picture: Herts police (Image: Archant)

People were given the chance to drop knives off at the station in Lytton way without fear of facing prosection as part of a county and country-wide attempt to get knives off the streets.

There has been an increase in knife crime in Herts over the past year and a series of knife-related murders, attempted murders and assaults in the town.

The amnesty ended on Sunday by which time 32 kitchen knives and 21 military and ceremonial knives had been collected in the bin at Stevenage station.

Herts Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd, said of the amnesty: “Across the country knife related crime has been on the increase, and whilst the number of incidents in Hertfordshire remains low, we must take steps to keep our communities safe.”

The Comet: CowardsCarryKnivesCowardsCarryKnives (Image: Archant)

He added: “We are working on longer term plans to educate young people in the county about the dangers of knives and making sure anyone caught carrying a knife will be arrested.”

More information at www.herts.police.uk.