A police force has stopped publishing images of seized knives and weapons because they might frighten the public.

Thames Valley Police hopes the move, confirmed during National Knife Crime Awareness Week, will reduce "the fear of knives and knife carrying".

The decision was described as a victory for "snowflakes" online, with some suggesting it will prevent the force from highlighting the dangers of weapons.

But it has been supported by campaigners who fear that pictures of blades may encourage gang members to carry larger and more dangerous blades.

TVP, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, had previously used social media to release pictures of machetes, swords, knives and daggers handed in during "no questions asked" amnesties.