POLICE have been carrying out knife searches in parks and playgrounds to reduce the amount of weapons off the streets.

Officers from Thames Valley Police used metal detectors as they searched parks and open spaces in Sandhurst Memorial Park on Thursday, September 19 to see how many bladed objects they could find.

Bracknell News:

The exercise was aimed at keeping communities safe by removing weapons that may have been concealed or dumped by people carrying knives.

READ MORE: Police launch campaign for knives to be off the streets

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Knife sweeps form part of our operational activity during Operation Sceptre.

"Operation Sceptre is a national week of action designed to challenge and reduce the threat of knife crime across the Thames Valley.

"The aims of the operation are to remove dangerous weapons from the street, reduce knife crime and raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife."

Police are highlighting some of the actions taken to prevent knife crime, as part of the national Operation Sceptre.

The national week of action is designed to challenge and reduce the threat of knife crime across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

The knife amnesty campaign will will finish on Sunday September 22, where members of the public will be able to anonymously dispose of any type of knife or bladed article safely.

If you need to report knife crime, call 999 in an emergency, 101 in a non-emergency, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.