Public concerns about the knife-carrying culture blighting UK towns and cities has led to Northumbria Police launching a safety awareness campaign – Taking Knives Off Your Streets.

The major crackdown calls for a ban on carrying all pointed weapons, including knives, in public places, with mandatory prison sentences for offenders.

There will also be a knife amnesty, stop and search operations in hotspot areas, and officers visiting schools to raise awareness.

The latest campaign has been welcomed by the mother of murdered schoolboy Glen Corner, stabbed to death in East Avenue, Harton, South Shields, as he celebrated his 16th birthday in August 2006.

Susanne Hilton joined forces with the Gazette last year, to launch our own campaign Knives Ruin Lives – to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives.

It was praised by then Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker and supported by South Tyneside Area Command and South Tyneside Council.

Ms Hilton, 35, said: "Northumbria Police is right to launch a campaign, It not only puts people's minds at rest, but also raises awareness of the dangers of knives. The more campaigns we have, the better. People then can't say they haven't heard anything.

"People need to realise, even if you are carrying a knife for your own protection it can be turned on you – a knife is a potential murder weapon."

While knife crime is not a significant problem in Northumbria, Chief Constable Mike Craik is calling on residents to help police keep it that way.

Throughout the campaign, hotspot areas will be targeted, a knife amnesty will be launched and anyone found carrying a knife, without good reason, will be charged and put before the courts.

Mr Craik will also continue calls for a ban on carrying all pointed weapons, including knives, in public places with mandatory prison sentences for offenders.

"Our message to offenders is clear – we have you in our sights, you will not get away with this, use the knife amnesty bins to dispose of your weapons.

"And our message to the law-abiding majority is also clear – we know you're worried, but Northumbria is a safe place. With your help, we aim to keep it that way. Our latest figures show that serious knife crime has gone down this year compared with 2007.

"It's also a fact that random attacks involving knives are unusual – in the majority of incidents, the victim and the offender know each other."

Already Northumbria Police operates a policy which means anyone caught carrying a knife will be charged, not cautioned, unless there are exceptional circumstances, and officers will always seek to charge them with the more serious offence of possession of an offensive weapon.

Chief Supt Mark Dennett, of South Tyneside Area Command, said: "In South Tyneside we do not have the same issue with knife crime as other areas of the country, however, we acknowledge public concerns and this campaign is about addressing those concerns.

"We have offenders in our sights and will be taking enforcement action.

"The force-wide drive follows on from the knife campaign ran by the Gazette last year which involved South Tyneside Area Command, South Tyneside Council and Susanne Hilton.

"We welcome campaigns such as those by the Gazette as they successfully raise public awareness on issues.

"If people are given the confidence to report incidents, become witnesses and seek help as victims, or are given reassurance through these campaigns, then they should be applauded."

Police will work with partners, including local authorities, as well as going into schools to raise awareness.

Anyone with information, call police on 0345 604 3043.