KNIFE crime in Basingstoke fell by more than a third in six months, new figures reveal.

Violent offences involving a bladed implement - which includes glass - dropped from 49 in the last six months of last year, to 30 in the first six months of this year.

Figures also show a reduction of more than a third in the number of such offences involving teenagers for the same period, from 14 to nine.

The statistics were released by Hampshire Constabulary following a Freedom of Information request by The Gazette.

Simon Dodds, Hampshire Constabulary's acting chief inspector at Basingstoke, believes that the latest statistics show an encouraging trend.

He said: "The figures reflect the hard work that is going on around the unlawful possession and use of bladed articles in crime.

"The force, as a whole, has seen a three per cent reduction in knife crime compared with last year, and as of July was ranked as having the 16th lowest incidence of such articles being used in serious violent crime. This is when compared with the 43 forces in England and Wales.

"The message I want to reinforce is get caught carrying a knife and expect to go to court. Gone are the days when you may have received a warning or caution for such an offence."