Five knives seized every day in South Yorkshire

Knife Amnesty 1. Inspector David Owens with some of the 1218 Knives and sharp implements that were handed in during the recentknife amnesty.

During 2015, South Yorkshire Police officers dealt with 2,066 incidents where the offender was carrying a knife.

A total of 346 people were injured during knife attacks, including two who died from their injuries.

A further 107 were classed as seriously injured and 237 received ‘slight injuries’.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings said the figures show there are still a number of individuals intent on carrying weapons whilst carrying out crime.

In 252 offences the knife was carried but not used, according to the figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request. Of the 2,066 incidents last year, 413 people were charged.

The 2,066 crimes where offenders were found to be carrying a knife included 131 assaults with injury, 149 assaults with intent to cause serious harm and four attempted murders.

Threats to kill accounted for 20 offences and there were four sexual assaults.

Figures also included 777 incidents of criminal damage to vehicles where the offender was found to be carrying a knife.

Dr Billings said: “These figures show that there are still a number of individuals intent on carrying weapons whilst carrying out crime.

“We should note though that not all of the items being carried were knives as we would normally understand that and 777 of these offences were knives being used to get in to cars. The public can be re-assured on two counts. First, South Yorkshire does not have a serious knife problem and second, the police do take measures to locate knives if a problem is perceived.”