WARNING TO PEOPLE CARRYING KNIVES

Mr Yeo was speaking as the Home Office announced on Friday that almost 90,000 knives were handed in nationwide during the five-week campaign.

He revealed that, of all the knives placed in sealed bins at the 32 police stations across Sussex, two thirds - 2,460 - were domestic knives.

But 1,258 were classified as weapons or items of martial interest.

'I would estimate that, of these, 350 are weapons that only exist to hurt people,' he said.

'Taking these knives out of circulation has been the real success of the campaign.'

Those who handed over knives during the amnesty avoided prosecution for possession.

However Mr Yeo warned: 'Now that the amnesty is over, we will be taking follow-up action in Sussex to deal with those people who continue to carry knives.

'We will also be dealing with irresponsible retailers who flout the law by selling knives to under-18s.'