KNIFE crime is on the rise in South Worcestershire.

There were 111 recorded crimes involving a bladed weapon in the South Worcestershire policing area in 2016/17, compared to 94 offences in 2015/16 and 66 percent of these offences were committed in Worcester.

It follows knife crime increasing by 30 per cent for 2015/16 in Worcester on 2014/15's total.

The figures have been released as part of a police crackdown on knife crime with people being urged to surrender knives at Worcester Police station.

Chief inspector Sharon Cannings said: “While the region doesn’t have a big knife problem we’re keen to play our part in this national campaign to tackle knife crime and the damage it causes to communities.

“Knife crime doesn’t just affect the victims it affects the families of victims and offenders and has a devastating impact on the wider community.

“We want people who carry knives to stop and think about the potential consequences for others and themselves.

“For the next four weeks people will have the opportunity to surrender those knives anonymously. The decision to do so might be the most important decision they ever make.”

Of the bladed crimes in South Worcestershire, 88 per cent were knife crimes while 60 per cent occurred within a residential premises, 42 per cent of instances were domestic related and 12 per cent drug related.

This month police are supporting the national ongoing knife surrender campaign Operation Sceptre, with knife crimes up 18 per cent in South Worcestershire in 2016/17.

The campaign will run for four weeks starting today with a knife surrender bin placed at the police station in Castle Street, Worcester.

The aims of the operation are to remove dangerous weapons from the street and to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.

Police and crime commissioner John Campion added: “Whilst we are fortunate that knife crimes are rare in our communities, just one incident is one too many, and the consequences can be devastating.

"The knife surrender campaign, is just one of many ways in which West Mercia Police is committed to tackling violent crime. I am committed to ensuring they have the resources to keep our communities safe and secure.”

Anyone can use one a surrender bin to anonymously hand over a knife or other bladed item.

This is a surrender campaign as opposed to an amnesty, so there will be no immunity from prosecution if one of the surrendered weapons was used in a crime.

The knives surrendered will be delivered to the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry where they will be used to build a plinth for a 20-ft high guardian angel sculpture in memory of those who have lost their life to knife crime.

Possession of a knife carries can carry a prison sentence of up to four years.