A HIGH-profile day of action to stamp out knife crime in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will take place today.

Hundreds of officers from across both counties will link up for the force-wide initiative aimed at reducing the threat of knife crime.

Random searches and high visibility patrols will be carried out across all communities - the first in a series of planned activity to rid the streets of blades.

Officers from all six operational command units together with the force support unit, dog unit and tactical firearms team will be involved in the pro-active event that will see stop and searches carried out as well as night work to reduce the amount of weapons being taken into public places.

It is the latest in a series of measures being taken under the county wide campaign called Operation Sharp launched last month.

It also comes as the Daily Echo continues its awareness drive called Carrying A Blade - It's Not Sharp, which was launched following the deaths of teenagers Lewis Singleton and Dele Little. Both died after receiving stab wounds inflicted on the streets of Hampshire.

The 24-hour action will be supported by staff from Hampshire's force intelligence violent crime desk where analysts are dedicated to conducting a daily critical incident scan of all knife-related incidents and major violence.

During earlier stages of Operation Sharp, which uses intelligence-led policing to target the problem, 150 bladed weapons were seized from shops and retailers in Hampshire ranging from flick knives to samurai swords.

Chief Superintendent Bob Rose, head of Operations operational command unit, said: "While we know that the majority of knife-related homicides are committed by family members, friends or acquaintances inside private premises, this action is targeting those who carry knives on the street and use them to threaten or commit violence.

"Operation Sharp is a long-term strategy committed to combating knife crime, and this day represents a concerted approach across the Force to provide public reassurance, reduce knife-related criminal activity and, most importantly, prevent further serious injury and deaths as the result of their use.

"We have already seen a reduction in domestic homicides over recent years, and we are determined to continue this downward trend through the reduction and prevention of all knife crime on the streets by taking robust action now.

"The most important message is that Hampshire continues to be one of the safest places to live and work. We want to keep it that way."