POLICE hope a knife amnesty will help stem a spate of stabbings and slashings in Barnsley.

Bins for the disposal of knives have been placed in every police station in the borough. In two weeks there have been two knife attacks in Wombwell and one in New Lodge. PC Martin Colman said he hoped the amnesty would help stop others.

“Every knife that gets taken off the street means there is less chance of people using knives. Anyone can dispose of a knife in our bins whether it’s a pocket knife, sheath knife or a kitchen knife,” he said. No questions will be asked.

Inspector Dave Owens is heading the campaign and said: “The message to people and particularly younger members of the community is to turn in your knife before it gets turned on you.

“We want people to realise the dangers of carrying a knife and use this chance to dispose of it safely before police take action against them.”