More than 1,000 knives removed from streets during week of action
More than 1,000 knives were seized and almost 2,000 arrests made during a seven-day police crackdown on knife crime.
All 43 police forces in England and Wales, together with British Transport Police, took part in Operation Sceptre, the national campaign to remove knives from the streets.
A variety of other tactics were used by forces, including weapons sweeps, knife arches in public places and events and ‘honesty’ bins.
Officers seized 1,074 knives, an increase of more than 14 per cent since the last Operation Sceptre week in November 2021, and 8,401 were either surrendered or seized during sweeps, according to the latest figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Of the 1,947 people arrested during the week-long operation from May 16 to May 22, 831 were related to knife crime offences.
As part of Operation Sceptre, the police worked closely with HM Prison Service, in a coordinated effort to tackle violence in prisons, with an intelligence led operation, targeting those carrying weapons and disrupting the supply of knives and bladed articles.
Across eight prisons, 100 cells and 131 inmates were searched in a targeted approach. Within the prisons, 29 weapons were found. Among these improvised weapons were razor blades fixed to toothbrushes and other homemade handles.
Weapons seized during the week, included machetes, swords and hunting knives and other forms of criminality such as supplying drugs were also identified. Police also continued to work closely with Border Force to stop illegal knives entering the country.
The week also focused on education and engagement with young people, members of the public and retailers which sell knives. In total, 1,917 schools were engaged with, as well as 966 local community events, talking about the dangers of knife crime to young people, said the NPCC.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty, NPCC lead for knife crime, said: “Operation Sceptre saw a real crack down on the serious violence associated with knife crime and has delivered some outstanding results.
“We have seen in the last week 9,115 knives taken off our streets and made 831 knife related arrests, more than any previous Op Sceptre. This enforcement activity makes it clear that we will tackle knife crime in any form.
“We haven’t stopped there, we are working in close partnership with the Prison Service, where we have supported the service and targeted those who wish to do harm by carrying weapons within prisons. This intelligence led operation is aimed at stopping those most dangerous criminals intent on committing serious harm to prisoners and staff.
The message is clear to them, we will gather evidence and seek to prosecute wherever possible, which could add a considerable sentence to their time in prison.”
He added: “Op Sceptre highlights the continuing commitment of the police working with the public in preventing young people carrying knives and this latest Sceptre week saw our engagement with schools and communities increase to higher levels than ever before. Young people must understand that carrying a knife is never the answer, nor does it offer the protection they think it does. It only puts them at greater risk.”
The Minister for Crime, Policing and Probation, Kit Malthouse, said: “We have to work day and night to keep our kids safe. There is nothing more terrifying for a parent that the thought of them not making it home.
“Operations like this are helping us make our streets safer each day. Every knife taken off our streets is a potential life saved, and since 2019 alone, we’ve removed 50,000 of them.
“Reducing serious violence is our chief priority. We’re on track to deliver 20,000 additional police officers by this time next year and we’re giving them the powers they need to keep our communities safe.”
Prisons Minister Victoria Atkins said they were “clamping down on the weapons that fuel violence behind bars”.
This includes a £100 million investment in additional security measures ranging from X-ray body scanners to enhanced gate security.
“Knife crime ruins lives and devastates communities, and I am extremely proud of those brave prison staff who put their lives on the line to protect others,” she said.
“But our efforts aren’t just in prisons – anyone carrying blades should feel the full force of the law, which is why this Government have changed the law to make sure anyone convicted of knife crime more likely than ever to end up behind bars, and for longer.”