Avon and Somerset Police have revealed they are highlighting the issue of knife crime as part of a national campaign.

Knife crime continues to rise in the area, with offences increasing by 52% year-on-year between 2016/17 and 2017/18 from 1,201 to 1,835.

The latest Operation Sceptre, spearheaded by the Met Police, runs between September 15 and September 23 and looks at tackling knife crime across the country.

However A&SP have said they will be carrying out a number of activities to raise awareness of the dangers carrying knives and the impact of knife crime, while also trying to better understand why people carry knives, particularly on a night out.

There will now also be permanent bins where knives can be surrendered. These Include:

• Patchway Custody Centre

• The Bridewell Police Station

• Bridgwater Police Station

• Keynsham Custody Centre

Throughout the week, officers will use intelligence-led tactics, weapons sweeps and high-visibility patrols to target and disrupt offenders who carry and use knives. This is part of ongoing work with partners to tackle knife crime and associated gang activity.

There will also be a temporary bin at Redbridge House in Bath where you can surrender a knife anonymously.

Force lead for knife crime Chief Inspector Zoe Chegwyn said: "Since October 2016 when we first introduced surrender bins in our force area, some 927 knives have been surrendered in total.

"Every knife surrendered is one less knife out on the street, where they can and do cause serious harm.

"We have seen some shocking machetes and zombie knives left in the bins which are usually only carried by people wanting to seriously hurt others.

"Despite this, the stats show that the message isn’t getting through that people who carry a weapon are more likely to be hospitalised themselves with an injury caused by violence.

"That is why we will continue to work hard to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives and engage with our communities.