SALISBURY students were given the opportunity to learn about tools used to stop knife crime as part of an awareness campaign.

Police officers were at the Salisbury campus of Wiltshire College on Tuesday as part of Op Sceptre - the national knife crime awareness campaign.

The team, led by PCSO Alan Aldersley-Byrne, who is Wiltshire Police’s schools and youth liaison supervisor, took a “knife arch”, which is similar to an airport security scanner and can be used as another tool to help prevent knife crime, to the campus.

The awareness campaign aims to highlight the dangers of carrying a knife.

PCSO Aldersley-Byrne said: “Yesterday (September 25) was a fantastic opportunity to engage with both tutors and students about the consequences of knife crime; regardless if an offensive weapon is used or not, carrying one out and about in public is still an offence.

“The students were at first, slightly concerned about why the knife arch was in the Salisbury campus courtyard, but once being informed about the work behind Op Sceptre and given the chance to walk through the arch structure, the questions came a mile a minute.”

Luke Bennett, a uniformed public services student, 19, from Amesbury, said: “I’ve heard lots on the news about knife crime but I wasn’t aware that it was a big thing locally so that has been interesting to learn about, and also have a chance to go through the knife arch.

“I’m considering a career with the police and so it has been great to have them here today to ask lot of questions and also I think it’s really good seeing the police and being a part of the community.”

Nu Mactereth Bates, 17, from Salisbury, who is a uniformed public services student, said: “I think it is very important to raise awareness of the dangers of knives and so it was great to have the police here to talk to students about potential dangers and consequences.

“I’d never been through a scanner before today, although I have seen them at festivals and big events.Young people do carry things around with them but I think a lot of time they don’t really understand the dangers of doing so.”