NEW controls on the sale of knives have been proposed by Shadow Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

The move comes at the end of the month-long national knives amnesty, during which more than 1,000 blades were handed in at police stations across Lancashire.

The Labour MP proposed four measures aimed at combatting the rising number of knives circulating throughout the country.

He has called for:

A ban on the sale of knives to under 16s, similar to that concerning solvents, cigarettes and fireworks.

Statutory powers to control the advertising of knives, many with "lurid" names such as Rambo Sidearm, by mail order and the display of military-style blades.

Banning the sale of military-style knives and swords, martial arts weapons and de-activiated and replica guns.

Warning labels on all knives with a blade of more than three inches.

Lancashire Chief Constable Pauline Clare called for new legal measures to control the use of knives after revealing that 1,064 blades were dumped in police station knife bins in the month up to January 20.

Mr Straw said: "Later this week, the Bill to provide imprisonment and a power of arrest for carrying knives is to come before the Commons.

"We want to see it on the statute book without delay. But there are other measures which, in our view, need to be taken to help us to break the knife culture which has infected parts of our society and puts the police and public at such risk."

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