POLICE are urging people to surrender knives at station front counters as part of a nationwide stand against knife violence.

Thames Valley Police is joining more than 30 forces across the country as part of Operation Sceptre from today (Monday) until Sunday.

Knife surrender bins will be at a number of police front counters across the Thames Valley in support of the initiative started by the Metropolitan Police.

The knives will be used to create a work of art by the British Irownwork Centre.

Superintendent Richard James from neighbourhood policing and partnerships said: “Taking part in the British Ironwork Centre project illustrates how we in the Thames Valley are part of the nation’s collective stand against knife crime and violence.

“It is important that we continue to ensure people understand that carrying a knife makes an individual more likely to be a victim of knife crime themselves."

From January to December 2015 Thames Valley Police received reports of 485 crimes in which a bladed or pointed article was used compared to 496 during the same period the year before, a 2% reduction.

Front counter offices with knife surrender bins include those at Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead police stations.

The other front counters with surrender bins are Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Amersham, Oxford, Abingdon, Banbury, Henley, Cowley, Didcot, Witney, Bicester, Reading, Loddon Valley, Newbury, Wokingham and Bracknell.