Surrey Police issued an update on their knife amnesty project ahead of the conclusion of Operation Sceptre tomorrow (March 18).

On micro-blogging site Twitter Surrey Police revealed that dozens of dangerous weapons had been turned in during the project, which began on March 11 and concludes Monday, March 18.

Surrey Police said: "Our officers have been working hard visiting schools and engaging with communities to highlight the choices young people have, and the dangers of carrying a knife."

Semi-permanent amnesty 'bins', where those in possession of knives and other dangerous weapons can hand them into police anonymously and without fear of repercussion, were set up at four centres in Surrey for the operation, namely Staines, Guildford, Reigate and Woking.

Surrey Police also conducted knife and weapon sweeps throughout the region during the project in a bid to remove as many knives from the streets as possible.

Early into the project, scores of knives and other bladed weapons had been turned over to the police.

On Wednesday, March 13, Surrey Police said: "40 knives are already off the streets of #Surrey just 3 days into our #KnifeAmnesty.

"You can go #KnifeFree too. No questions. No arrest. #BinTheBlade at #Guildford, #Woking, #Staines and #Reigate Police Stations until Sunday."

Meanwhile in Elmbridge, Borough Council members helped police weapon sweeps successfully removed 11 knives in a single day from high-risk areas.

Surrey Police said: "Officers uut in force with partners from @ElmbridgeBC to target known areas with knife and weapon sweeps.

"11 weapons found, removed and now off to be destroyed!"

Speaking to BBC Surrey earlier this week, Chief Inspector Mark Offord said that Surrey Police had focused on outreach and enforcement in the region during Operation Sceptre to help highlight the dangers of knife crime.

Mr Offord said: "Our neighbourhood teams (are) going out into schools, speaking to young people and explaining the risks and the dangers of carrying a knife.

"Engagement events in the local community...aim to highlight to parents and adults signs to be looking out for if (a) child is becoming involved in criminality or choosing to pick up a knife out of fear of their own safety," adding that children becoming withdrawn and playing truant from school might be signs that they could be affected by knife crime in some way.

Knife crime is on the rise in the UK, with knife-related crimes reaching a nine-year high in 2018 according to a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) report released on Tuesday (March 14).

The MoJ statistics showed that in 2018 there were a total of 21,484 offences dealt with by the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales, the equivalent of 59 every day and the highest that figure has been since 2009 (25,103).

Operation Sceptre concludes Monday, March 18.

For more information on knife crime and the police response, go to: https://www.met.police.uk/StopKnifeCrime. Support is available at: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/crime-law/gun-knife-crime/