A KNIFE amnesty being carried out this week in a national campaign is being supported by North Yorkshire Police.

Operation Sceptre is a co-ordinated week of action taking place across the country and which started on Monday.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "North Yorkshire is one of the safest places in England and levels of knife crime in particular are low but officers this week are supporting a national campaign to keep our county this way.

"Locally, North Yorkshire Police will distribute interactive posters to schools to educate young children about the dangers of carrying knives, provide ‘surrender bins’ to give people an opportunity to dispose of knives and blades, and raise aware of the dangers of knife crime on social media.

"It is not just young people officers would like to educate about the dangers knives can pose if they get into the wrong hands.

"People who have decorative knives, which may have belonged to older relatives or have been purchased abroad, are also being asked to surrender their potential weapons in one of the bins provided.

"Knife collection bins will be placed in Skipton police station between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4.30pm on Friday.