Enfield is playing its part in a national five-week amnesty tackling knife crime.

From now until June 30 people can hand in knives at police stations across the borough without facing prosecution.

Since Wednesday, ten knives have been handed into Enfield police stations. The weapons include kitchen and flick knives.

Meanwhile, as part of Operation Blunt, search arches will be placed at transport hubs and town centres.

Educational talks and test purchase operations, which involve youngsters buying knives to check up on shopkeepers, are also underway.

It is hoped the knife amnesty will go some way to persuading people, especially youngsters, to give up their weapons.

Operation Blunt kicked off in the borough with police officers leading a special assembly on knife crime at Aylward School, in Windmill Lane, Edmonton.

Sgt Chris Chatt, leading the operation, said: "Educating youngsters on the dangers of carrying knives is vital to stop further tragic events, such as the death of schoolboy Kiyan Prince who was stabbed to death outside his school in Edgware earlier this month.

"Officers will also be visiting youth clubs and children's care homes during the initiative to get the message across."

Sgt Chatt said many people who carry knives, do so because they fear crime and want to protect themselves He added: "In reality, these people will not be attacked, but if they have a knife on them they are more likely to use it.

"The message is, don't carry a knife, then that decision is taken away from you."

The penalty for people caught carrying a knife in public is to be reviewed following the death of 15-year-old Kiyan Prince.

Home Office whip Lord Bassam said the Government would look again at the two-year maximum sentence for carrying a knife without good cause.

Knives can be surrendered in bins at Edmonton, Enfield, Southgate and Ponders End police stations and the borough's mobile police station which will be touring the borough's schools.

Operation Blunt was first launched in London in 2005.