Portsmouth man finds knife while walking his dog near the city centre - what should you do if you see a knife?
The knife had been hidden under a garden wall.
A man who was taking his dog out for a walk near Portsmouth city centre ended up handing a knife over to police.
The dog walker, who wished to remain anonymous, was walking his pet through Arundel Street, Landport when he found a knife under a garden wall. The blade had been kept in a black sheath, which appeared to be made of leather.
Speaking to The News, he said: “My dog found that - it’s scary. It was in Arundel Street, basically in town.
“There are too many knives on the streets, it’s wrong. I’ve taken the knife to the police.”
The News has approached Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for comment.
Speaking to The News last year, police and crime commissioner Donna Jones explained that tackling knife crime is still high up on the police’s list of priorities.
She said: “Knife crime remains a serious concern in Portsmouth. While serious violence incidents involving knives have dropped by 19 per cent in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight over the past two years, there has been a slight rise in young people involved in serious violence.
“Recent incidents are deeply worrying for families and communities. Many young people say they carry knives for protection, but the truth is it puts them at greater risk of being seriously injured.
“Thirty years ago, disputes were settled with ists, but the culture has changed. Education is now crucial. I fund charities to go into schools and talk openly with young people about the dangers. Both the police and my Violence Reduction Unit work closely with schools, the Youth Justice Service, and local organisations to provide the right support and early intervention.”
On the police website, the force advises that any offensive weapons - including knives, knuckledusters and more - can be disposed of in surrender bins, scattered across the county.
These are all situated at local police stations - for example in Portsmouth, there is one at Portsmouth Police Station in Isambard Brunel Road, and another at Eastern Hampshire Police Investigation Centre in Airport Station Road, Hilsea.