POLICE seized 45 knives and arrested 10 people in Cheshire during a week of action against knife crime.

Those arrested during the national campaign, codenamed Operation Sceptre, were taken into custody on suspicion of committing knife-related offences.

The offensive against offenders started on November 9 and officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) also spent time educating people about the dangers of carrying weapons.

They stopped and searched 79 people, handed out Knife Crime Warning Notices to 12 people believed to be habitual knife carriers and went into 28 schools to deliver anti-weapons messages.

Retailers selling knives were also visited to ensure that age-restricted sales policies were being followed - it is illegal to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18.

Three pop-up police stations were mounted on three estates with knife crime concerns and drop-in sessions were held at three community venues and Bleeding Control Kits were handed out a wide range of venues.

Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, who is Cheshire Constabulary's knife crime lead, said: "With the coronavirus pandemic and the Government guidelines that we all have to follow we had to cancel some of our plans for the week, but nothing was going to stop us from continuing to tackle knife crime offenders and protect the people of Cheshire.

"Police dogs and one of our drones were utilised in some of the activities we undertook as part of Operation Sceptre.

"We stopped and search anyone suspected of carrying a weapon and used all of the other powers at our disposal to combat weapon enabled crime.

"We also executed warrants related to knife crime and paid warning visits to people believed to be habitual knife carriers."

The chief inspector added: "We take knife crime extremely seriously and are proud of the fact that Cheshire has a lower rate of knife crime than most other counties in England.

"When people carry knives it is only a matter of time before someone suffers life changing injuries or is killed, and if you carry a knife then you are much more likely to be involved in a knife crime.

David Keane, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, added: "We've seen a number of tragic cases in Cheshire over recent years in which young people in our communities have, sadly, lost their lives to knife crime.

"It's important to remember that carrying a knife doesn't make you safer, it increases the risk of you being involved in a violent crime."

To report any type of crime involving weapons call Cheshire Police on 101, or pass information through their website.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.