Knife amnesty campaign is saving lives

The amnesty in the county has led to 800 knives – 310 of them in East Lancashire – being handed in and that is terrific in terms of lives potentially saved and it is good that the campaign is continuing as part of a national project.

Knife crime has a devastating effect on families and our communities and everything that can be done to deter it must be tried.

Unfortunately, there is a never-ending source of knives. Every home has them, so it is vital that youngsters and adults are educated about their danger as a weapon.

It is not just the victims and their loved ones who pay the price but the families of the culprits who suffer when they are locked away for inflicting injury or death.

The project co-ordinators intend to use the collected knives to create a 20ft. high guardian angel sculpture in memory of those whose lives have so tragically been lost.

That is such a poignant idea and one that I hope may make those reckless enough to arm themselves with knives stop in their tracks and not do so. Life is precious and it takes but seconds for a knife to end it.

Paul Nuttall

UKIP