FOLLOWING Dele's death, the Daily Echo launched a campaign to stop people carrying knives on the streets of Hampshire.

Backed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, given cross party support by MPs and councillors and with the full backing of Hampshire police, we urged people to put down their blades.

The "Carrying a Blade - It's Not Sharp" campaign was designed to raise awareness of the dangers of taking a weapon out - and the heightened risk that it would or could be used.

It was followed later this year by a similar campaign launched by Hampshire police called Operation Sharp which has seen a number of anti-knife crime related incidents take place in our communities.

Dele was the first of several people to die from fatal stab wounds in the area this year.

In March care worker Sarah Merritt and her client Susan Hale were found murdered. Both had suffered multiple stab wounds to their bodies.

Later that month 18-year-old Lewis Singleton died after being fatally stabbed as he walked home from a night out in Woolston. As the campaign continues, bars and nightclubs across Southampton have been issued with metal detectors to search for potential weapons and knife amnesties.

To find out where you can safely get rid of a knife, or to report someone who you believe is carrying one, call Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545.