KNIVES handed to police during a weapons amnesty across Teignbridge and the rest of the force area are for the bullet.

More than 200 blades dropped in at local nicks are set to be destroyed over the next few weeks, senior officers announced.

They have been ‘really pleased’ at the response to their appeal to reduce the number of dangerous weapons in public circulation.

Police were particularly keen to attract unwanted zombie-type knives - but they were a noticeable absentee from their bag of baddies collected from November 15-21.

A spokesman said: ‘These knives are no longer at risk of falling into the wrong hands, nor will they be responsible for causing harm. They will be destroyed in the next few weeks.’

He revealed that the variety of metalwork discarded had been ‘staggering.’

Among the items given up were small pocket knives, illegal lock knives, commando and Nepalese kukri-type knives and an assortment of knives found in a typical kitchen. 

Other weapons taken in were ornate fantasy-type knives, a variety of swords, machetes and even a nasty umbrella sword where the handle pulled out to reveal a long spike, as used by the Penguin character in Batman.

Acting Det Supt Ben Deer said: ‘I’m really pleased with the response we’ve had. Clearly people have taken this opportunity to hand these potentially dangerous items in which will now be safely destroyed.’

He added: ‘Devon and Cornwall does not have a particular problem with knives compared to some other parts of the country but it would be wrong to suggest crimes involving knives don’t happen here, because they do.’

And he stressed: ‘People who carry knives for no legitimate reason risk arrest - and if used in a confrontation are highly likely to be injured.’