The interview on the news with half a dozen normal teenagers said it for me- half knew a victim, all knew people who carry knives, most had been threatened, and all said they did not want adverts, they wanted police with power to deal with this. Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime? No way..

Phil A, Headley, UK

It is the humans that commit the crime not the weapon. 6 inch nails work just as well. I carried a knife to school when I was educated in Britain(1965). We all used them openly to sharpen our pencils. We played "split the kipper" with them at lunch. No one ever got hurt! Criminals were punished.

John , Baltimore , USA

Let's stop all this messing about. Give the police more powers, stop worrying about 'antogonising' these adolescent cretins , haul their parents into court, forget ASBO and start giving prison sentences for merely carrying an offensive weapon. And put Boris Johnson in charge of the lot.
EO

Eileen O'Conor, Cordoba, Spain

kids carry knives because they are more afraid of other violent kids than they are frightened of the helpless police. Helpless police, useless police, politically correct police, overburdened police, disillusioned police. More busy chasing people who dont have a tv licence than chasing violent scum

frank, slough, uk

200 people may well have been arrested but I suspect those 200 are now back walking the streets.
Forget seizing knives, seize the people carrying the knives.
This is just a worthless publicity stunt.

Steve, London,

God, how utterly pointless. 200 knives to be replaced instantly from anyone's kitchen. 200 knife holders let loose back into the community that they threaten by their continued existence and freedom.

And a load of pictures that mean nothing to these low-intelligent brutal idiots. Well done.

Laura Roberts, London, United Kingdom

Utter tosh - 200 weapons in two weeks? Big dent in the knife numbers? Compare: In 2006 the summer knife amnesty took over 100 000 weapons (a hundred thousand) in six weeks. Over 10 000 in London. So this 'blitz' will take a mere two years to equal the voluntary hand-ins from one amnesty.

alex stuart, London, UK

why cant we get all 16-20 and put them in the army we are short of troops and the young ones are short of a job it works in other countrys

dezzie, Blyth, uk

I have carried a Swiss Army knife virtually all the time for the last forty years - am I part of the knife carrying statistics?

PS - I have never attacked anyone with it

Ian Watson, Warlingham, England

The only time they are going to get this knife problem under control is when (a) the schools start instilling proper discipline (b) parents start proper parenting (c) the Courts really carck down HARD with 5 years minimum jail for carrying a knife and 10 year minimum for using one etc etc

Matt, London, United Kingdom

Gun ban worked well didn't it? To think a knife ban will work is foolish. People carry knives for all kinds of reasons NOT related to protection. They are tools. How about the UK government actually get inventive and try to deal with the root of the problem -- the kids -- instead of the symptoms

Scott , Sundre, Canada

That's what we do in the states with guns...just think how many more shootings we'd have without it.

Chris, Philadelphia, USA

Thank goodness! I was wondering when the government would be moved to action. I'll sleep better tonight knowing that an ad campaign has been launched. That ought to do it!

Miss Dee, Tayside, UK

It would be interesting to know, of those arrested, what punishment they received

Mike, Gravesend, England

Zero tolerance with regard to carrying weapons is a must. Provided youths are targetted, irrespective of ethnic origin, whenever the police deem it necessary to search them, all youths and older men will see that it is pointless to carry weapons. Well done to the Police.

John, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan

Tough love & conversations about knives - that should do it.

To think that some parents used to believe a clip round the ear encouraged kids' behaviour to improve. Thank goodness we're past that!

David, Oxford,

Those are some grisly images alrite..but there gonna have to compete with all the 18+ horror films our little kids are used to. I think also ads which promote positive behaviour, prospects and achievements by kids would be beneficial.

lan, keele,

3 million quid on advertising campaign..nice one that'll work!
even in 'nicer areas' you can spot the muppets who carry knives a mile away.
Maybe they should spend 3 million on spectacles for the not so local bobbies.

lisa, guildford, uk

And those caught in possession will get a severe talking to, really severe, coppers may even stamp their feet. Scarey!

D Case, Newquay,