Each police station in the area will have a drum into which people can anonymously drop their knives and other dangerous weapons without fear of prosecution

IN an effort to reduce the use of knives by communities, the police of Ladybrand in the Free State yesterday launched a Knife-Free Zone Campaign at the Boroa taxi rank in Tweespruit.

The campaign, a joint venture between the SAPS and the Community Policing Forum, seeks to eventually eliminate knives as weapons.

Sargeant Martin Xuma said the objective of the Knife-Free Campaign was to reduce the use of knives to settle differences.

Xuma said most violent crimes like rape, murder and robbery were committed by people armed with knives.

"Each police station, including Ladybrand, will have a drum into which people can anonymously drop their knives and other dangerous weapons without fear of prosecution," he said.

Xuma said this did not mean the police would not arrest people who carry knives. He said the police would increase stop-and-search patrols to make sure people had a violence free festive season.

The campaign was led by Tweespruit station commander Captain Anna Mere.