Hampshire Constabulary has recently been carrying out policing activities in support of Op Sceptre, the national week of action to challenge and reduce knife crime, with a number of arrests made.
During the week of action, which ran from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd May, officers reminded the public that there were 13 amnesty bins available at police stations across the county to prevent unwanted knives from finding their way into the streets. In total 247 knives and bladed articles were handed in across the force region.
A number of other proactive operations were undertaken to tackle knife crime and 12 knife-related arrests were made. This included 24 different inputs into schools by officers to educate and inform students about the dangers of carrying weapons and the fatal consequences associated with carrying a knife.
In addition to the educational slate, 68 stop and searches all related to knife crime were conducted, resulting in 3 knives being recovered and 9 arrests.
25 test purchase operations were carried out in stores across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to spot check age compliance with the sale of knives. Overall, there were 98% pass rate, with 1 fail being reported for summons on a second failed test purchase in Fleet.
Chief Inspector John Halfacre, tactical lead for knife crime said:
“Operation Sceptre is part of our ongoing proactive work to reduce knife crime across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This work demonstrates our continued efforts to deliver a number of activities to reduce the threat of knife crime protect our local communities and raise awareness of the dangers involved.
“Part of our work on this operation has involved am increased police presence in our communities, with officers engaging with the public and disrupting crime throughout the week of action. Because of this a total of 12 arrests were made during our work on Op Sceptre.
Article continues below this advertisement “With every operation, we seek to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives. While the police continue to take action to tackle those who carry weapons, we all have a duty and role to help keep each other safe.
“If you have concerns that someone is vulnerable and maybe drawn into crime or carrying a knife, speak to someone – the police, school, any trusted adult / professional – let’s get them the help they need and prevent future tragedies. In addition, if you have any information about someone carrying a knife or using weapons involved in violence, report it to police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.”
Will make zero difference to such crime but a cheap easy ineffective way a appeasement for the gullible to feel they are making a difference.
Curbing unchecked immigration would be more effective as our young emulate what the City feral imports do thinking it’s cool.
If as we used to have, only our own trash to jail then, as then, more meaningful sentences could be given once again
Ahh another story turned into a zenophopic rant by the village Icke-alike. Never fails. Priceless!
Yet Nigel was correct The stabbing in Oakfield has happened since some gullible idiots handed in a knife for a pat on the back.
Since when did carrying a knife become cool? Oh I know, it’s all the rap music the kids are listening to these days that glorifies violence, drugs, guns and gangs. Is it any wonder the young brains in these kids are so easily distorted. Then you’ve got the games they play online or on their Xbox and PlayStation. All killing and blood and guts. They think it’s all normal. They spend so much time playing these games, when they go out they haven’t switched off from violence and killing. Scary and very sad.
Well, not making people aware of the knife amnesty is a failing then.
So lots of knives not handed in I guess when they could have been.
WHY NOT MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO BUY KNIVES in the first place.
Stop them being on sale and stop them being available on line…how about that for reducing knife crime.
Oh yes well thats just too obvious!
Lets sell them everywhere and then complaine there is knife crime.
What a load of Cr… dont go saying hand knifes in and then have them for sale all over the place.