PEOPLE of St Helens are being urged to contact police if they suspect to know someone who carries a knife.

The plea comes as part of a national week of action to demonstrate the work police are doing and to ask for your help in sharing important messages and having conversations with those most at risk from knife crime.

There is is expected to be an increase in stop searches, open land searches and weapon sweeps.

Knife amnesty bins in police stations will also be in place at police stations.

A police spokesman said: "You may even spot our high visibility patrols using knife arches or wands at key times in busy locations or see our officers linking in with door-staff and licensed premises.

"But did you know we also speak to young people in schools and colleges, organise diversionary activities and social media campaigns aimed at children, carry out test purchases of knives and contact known knife crime offenders?"

St Helens Star:

Danny Fox

St Helens Star:

St Helens has suffered tragedy in recent years because of stabbings, with Danny Fox dying in 2016 after being wounded by a butterfly knife in St Helens town centre.

Teenager Ryan Lamb died from stab wounds in 2017 in St Helens and Adam Ellison was murdered by scrambler yobs who had a knife in Prescot that year.

St Helens Star: Adam Ellison

Adam Ellison

St Helens Star: Ryan Lamb.

Ryan Lamb

There have also been numerous cases reported by the Star where knives have been used in attacks or blades.

Since then, considerable education programmes have been put in place and police regularly meet with our partners in local authorities, schools, probation, charities and the medical profession to share intelligence and ideas.

Inspector Andy Creer said: "A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to address the issue of knife crime and what can be done about it but one of the most important tools we have is education.

"Most people probably don’t realise that carrying a knife can make a young person up to 60 per cent more likely to become a victim of knife crime themselves.

"Nobody wants to be a statistic and I want to appeal directly to parents and guardians – talk to your children about knife crime, educate them of the dangers and help us to make it socially unacceptable for anyone to carry a knife when they go out.

"Anyone who chooses to pick up a knife could be throwing away their lives and destroying the lives of others.

"Merseyside has seen at first hand the tragedy of knife crime and the effect it can have on the victims, the knife crime offenders and the families left behind.

"Nobody wants that knock on the door from the police so please, have that conversation with your loved ones.

"I want to reassure our communities that we will continue our work day in and day out and we are committed to getting rid of the problem of knife crime by working closely with our partners to help prevent and disrupt criminal activity.

"We will also continue to act on information reported to us through local policing teams or community leaders.

"But this is not a problem that Merseyside Police can tackle alone and we need everyone to be involved.

"If you know someone is carrying a knife then speak to us or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and help us to finally stamp out this problem.”