AN ANTIQUE sword was one of the items handed in during North Wales' Police crackdown on knife crime.

As part of a national week (September 16-22) of action to highlight the risks of carrying a bladed weapon, Operation Sceptre sees the force taking part in a knife surrender.

This has seen special amnesty bins located across the region - giving people the opportunity to dispose of knives and bladed items safely.

The antique sword pictured above was disposed of at one of the Anglesey-based bins (Holyhead and Llangefni).

A North Wales Police spokesman said: "This week is an opportunity for people to get rid of items they may have lying around the house which, if placed in the wrong hands, can do some damage.

"The replica sword pictured is a fairly unusual item for us to come across. However, in the past - during Gun Amnesty Week for example - we also had a rifle from the First World War handed in.

"The main point of the operation is to keep any dangerous items away from our streets as part of a national campaign to tackle knife crime."

Temporary Detective Inspector Tecwyn Green, Operation Sceptre Co-ordinator for North Wales Police added: “Carrying knives is totally and utterly unacceptable and we hope that introducing these wands will not only act as a deterrent, but they’ll also reassure people who are planning an enjoyable night out.

“Knives are dangerous and there is no place for them on the streets of North Wales. Carrying knives or other weapons do not keep you safe. By carrying a knife you are putting yourself in much greater danger, and more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get injured yourself.

“All licenced premises that are being given these wands have been extremely positive and are pleased to play their part in the national campaign. These venues rarely have issues relating to knife crime, yet they fully understand the importance of having a preventative initiative such as this one in place.

He added: “We want to ensure residents are safe from knife crime in their communities so we are pleased to be promoting our week-long knife amnesty where people can hand in knives without fear of punishment. Since July 2017, a total of 1,691 knives have been handed in across North Wales.”

Unwanted knives can be disposed of in special amnesty bins which will be placed in police stations in Wrexham, Mold, Rhyl, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Bangor, Caernarfon and Holyhead.

They can also be taken to recycling centres at Mochdre, Abergele, Rhyl, Denbigh and Ruthin. Please ensure any sharp ends are securely wrapped in a protective material.