KIDDERMINSTER police officers are supporting a nationwide campaign that aims to make the country's street safer.

The national 'Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife' campaign aims to reduce knife crime and the damage caused to families and the wider community.

The operation will run in the West Mercia Police area until August 19, and will give anyone with a knife the opportunity to surrender it anonymously at one of a number of secure knife bins located at police stations around the region, including Kidderminster Police Station, in Habberley Road.

People surrendering knives will not be required to leave any information, but if police suspect a weapon may have been involved in a crime they will examine it for evidence.

The campaign is being run in partnership with the British Ironwork Centre, in Shropshire. All the blades collected as part of the campaign will be made safe and used to help create a 20-foot high guardian angel sculpture in memory of those who have lost their lives to knife crime.

Superintendent Daryn Elton said: "The West Mercia policing area does not have a big knife crime problem but each incident is one too many.

"We are proud to play our part in supporting this national campaign and helping to make the country's streets safer for everyone.

"Every knife taken off the streets is one less opportunity for another life to be needlessly ruined.

"Knife crime does not just impact upon the lives of victims but also their families and the wider community; fear of crime increases and if people see others carrying knives they think they need to do the same and the number of people carrying knives increases further."

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, added: "Whilst knife crime is low in the West Mercia policing area compared to other areas, I would always support any initiative to get knives off the streets in our communities.

"I hope people will be reassured by this national campaign, which will help create a safer area."

Knives and blades can also be handed in at police stations in Hereford, Leamington Spa, Redditch, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Telford and Worcester.