OFFICERS fighting to keep our streets free from knife crime made a total of 21 arrests as they took part in a national week of action.

Northumbria Police was one of many across the country taking part in Operation Sceptre – a combined effort aimed at reducing the devastating effects knife crime can have on the people living in our communities.

As part of the week of action, 21 people were arrested for knife-related offences. As well as 18 knives, weapons including a claw hammer, stun gun and machete were recovered.

Officers also carried out dedicated knife searches of areas, during the week at the end of March.

Detective Inspector John Connolly, from the Force’s Crime Department, said: "Our officers work hard every day to make sure that our communities are kept safe from knife crime.

“This week was an extension of the hard work being carried out day-in-day-out to make sure dangerous individuals are pursued and our communities are kept safe and protected from the devastating impact of knife crime.

“Carrying a knife is never acceptable, and even in these unprecedented times, we are still doing everything we can to reassure our communities that we take a very strong stance on knife crime and on all forms of serious violence.

“I would urge anybody who has any information about people going out with a weapon to come forward. Share that information with police, so we can act now.”

He added: “I would like to stress that our area experiences low levels of knife crime compared to other big cities across the country, but that said, we are not complacent and any incident is one too many. We are fully committed to making the streets we live and work are as safe as we can.”

During the previous week of action last September a knife surrender was held with the Force recovering 326 blades – including knuckle duster knives, samurai swords, machetes and Gurkha knives and arrested 16 people who were wanted for weapons offences.

Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness added: “Results like this reaffirm our zero tolerance stance on knife crime – carrying or using a knife, or any weapon, is never acceptable.

“My thanks go out to the Force for reassuring our communities during these extremely difficult times, and for their efforts in this successful Operation. Northumbria is a safe place, and we will continue to keep it that way.

“Despite the challenges we currently face, we will keep working to ensure that no individual ever feels like violence is an option. Services are more stretched than ever before, but there is always support available for those who need it. I will continue to support these services, and make available as wide of a support network as possible for the most vulnerable.

“No one should have to feel like turning to violence, and no individual family should have to suffer the emotional pain that it brings.”