AS police received 130 knives from people around Wiltshire who handed them in during an amnesty, the former justice secretary was asked how to reduce knife crime.

Robert Buckland MP told BBC Wiltshire: "Wiltshire Police regularly have knife amnesties and it's not just serving a practical function of people handing in knives and weapons and what's lying around in a shed or garage, but actually getting the message out there that knives are lethal weapons and can kill people and, sadly, do.

"There are two ways of dealing with it. First, the sentencing end - we've seen sentences increase for offences like possessing a bladed weapon and use of a knife, sentences of imprisonment have become more normal for those offences, and we're toughening up the courts for repeat offenders.

"That's the end of the process after the damage is done but I think the most important thing is prevention. Knife crime prevention orders are useful and youth work is hugely important, like the Youth Endowment Fund and schemes in Swindon which help those most at risk of falling off the rails.

"That type of intervention is something we need to do much more of."