Three-week knife amnesty ending

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6167017.stm

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A three-week knife amnesty in Northern Ireland is to end at midnight.

The amnesty, which was launched on 20 November, was brought in as part of a year-long strategy aimed at reducing knife crime.

The police said a previous campaign in May was a success with 900 potential weapons being handed in.

As part of the campaign, police will be using newly issued metal detectors to stop and search anyone believed to be carrying an offensive weapon.

Along with the amnesties have come a strict enforcement strategy.

In November, the government also announced new laws to tackle knife crime.

The Violent Crime Reduction Act makes it illegal to sell knifes to anyone under 18 and introduces a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon.

Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson said the government was determined to "confront knife crime".

"The government, in partnership with the PSNI and Policing Board will continue to confront the culture of carrying knives in Northern Ireland," he said.