AN increase in knife crime in Redditch led to police asking passengers to pass through a ‘knife arch’ at Redditch Railway Station on Tuesday.
The exercise formed part of ‘Operation Sceptre’ – a week long knife surrender campaign.
Inspector Mark Chappell and Inspector Lewis Lincoln-Gordon, from Redditch’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams, were the driving force behind the operation.
Insp Lincoln-Gordon said: “Knife crime is on the increase and the offenders are typically aged between 16 and 40.
“For this reason we asked everyone under the age of 40 to walk through the arch.”
Police say knives are being brought into the town by people travelling here by train.
In all 67 people walked through the arch during the exercise and one offensive weapon was confiscated.
Utility knives, often used in work environments, were also found on several people but officers allowed them to continue although they were keen to remind people such knives should always be left at work and not carried around in public.
Insp Chappell said: “We are not trying to discriminate but instead promote the dangers of carrying a knife.
“It’s all about protecting the public and reassuring them that they are safe.”
