Knife crime reduction campaign supported by the force results in 67 knives off the streets
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Leicestershire Police recently supported Operation Sceptre, the national knife crime reduction campaign, alongside 42 UK police forces.
In place to keep communities safe, the seven-day operation (which began on Monday 13 May) supports the force’s established #LivesNotKnives campaign.
Activity carried out by officers aimed to reduce knife crime by targeting those carrying weapons and to disrupt the supply of knives available to use. This was achieved by them:
- carrying out high visibility patrols
- running engagement events
- running beat surgeries
- visiting habitual knife carriers to deliver the #LivesNotKnives message.
The force’s knife arch was deployed in over 20 locations to target those carrying knives.
All of this activity generated the following results:
- 57 weapon sweeps carried out
- 67 knives recovered
- 27 arrests made
- 27 educational events facilitated
- 32 school workshops delivered
- 58 visits to retailers
- 16 test purchases carried out
- Social media posts that reached over 100,000 people
Partnership activities including events in Jubilee Square, Spinney Hill park and Beaumont Leys shopping centre took place during the week in the afternoons into the early evening with activity also taking place later on in the evenings at local nightspots where bar teams and door staff were incredibly responsive to the campaigns activity.
There were also joint operations between Leicestershire Police, the British Transport Police and UK Border Force.
Opportunities to safely and anonymously dispose of knives were provided in Charnwood, Beaumont Leys, Braunstone, Hinckley, Keyham Lane, Mansfield House, Melton and Spinney Hill stations front enquiry offices via surrender bins for the duration of the week.
Detective Inspector Mark Brennan, from the Prevention and Problem-Solving Hub who lead the operation said: “Education, engagement and partnership working are the key principles that allow us to reach as many people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to share this vitally important Lives not Knives message.
“We use evidence-based research to share helpful messages about how to talk to a young person who carries a knife and ways to start those sometimes-difficult conversations.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work during Op Sceptre. Although it is a concentrated week of activity to tackle knife crime, incredible work to reduce violent crime happens every day of the year. Part of this work, during Op Sceptre, was carrying out test purchases – 16 were carried out and two shops failed. The work doesn’t stop there, it continues with work with Trading Standards to seek prosecutions.
“Getting those 67 knives off our streets is great news as it means they will never reach the hands of someone determined to use them for harm.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “Every knife confiscated is one less lethal weapon on our streets. The results from this week of action are impressive – well done to everyone involved - but I want to reassure people that the work to tackle knife crime takes place every day of every week.
“One victim is one too many. That’s why I remain committed to the prevention of crime. By preventing crime, we have fewer victims, fewer people in the criminal justice system and less demand on public services.
“That’s why my own team, the force and our partners are working hard to address the scourge of knife crime in our communities in line with my Police and Crime priorities. The fact that the latest figures show a reduction in violence with injury is no coincidence.”
If you are looking for help and support, please visit Leicestershire Police or the Live Safe websites. There is information for both adults and young people on both website.