Last updated at 10:10 25 May 2006

This horrifying five-foot weapon has been recovered by police during a knife amnesty.

The three-handled sword with a blade at either end, designed to be swung like a paddle, shocked officers who took custody of it.

Photos: See more knives from the amnesty

They are using it to publicise a five-week amnesty during which they hope around 30,000 weapons will be handed in, mainly from youngsters.

A spokesman for police in Gloucester, where it was surrendered, said: "It is a particularly nasty weapon that can, literally, take someone's head off. We are very glad it is off the streets and we want more weapons handed in."

The blade is believed to be a stainless-steel copy of a Klingon weapon used in the science fiction series Star Trek. "It's an extremely dangerous weapon," said a martial arts expert last night.

Other blades surrendered so far include lock-blade flick knives, exotic swords and a 'swordfish jaw' weapon with razor-sharp teeth.

The Home Office amnesty is in response to a series of attacks in recent weeks which have claimed the lives of volunteer policewoman Nisha Patel-Nasri and 15-year-old schoolboy Kiyan Prince. Safety campaigners and police say it does not go far enough. They are demanding far tougher sentences than the current maximum of two years for carrying a knife.

Under pressure in the Commons yesterday, the Prime Minister said a minimum could be introduced because at present thugs can escape with only a caution.

Mr Blair said: "We are giving urgent consideration not just to banning a whole series of knives but also making sure that there is some minimum sentence."

The widow of murdered headteacher Philip Lawrence said yesterday the amnesty on its own will not work.

Frances Lawrence, whose husband was killed at the gates of his school in north London in 1995, said three different ministers have been in charge of crime in the past three weeks and information from the Home Office is confusing.

Mrs Lawrence said: "There is an anomaly between the legislation for knife crime and gun crime, where gun crime carries much stiffer penalties.

"We all know a knife can kill just as easily as a gun so there is a great anomaly there. A knife amnesty on its own won't be a solution."