Operation Sceptre, an initiative to tackle knife crime across the country, has been launched this week.
Hampshire Constabulary alongside, the British Transport Police will take part in intensified efforts to crack down on knife-enabled crime and violence.
Throughout the week of action, Police will coordinate activities looking to target the root causes of knife crime. There will be focus on the different strands of education, engagement, prevention and enforcement, all of which are important in playing our part to reduce knife crime.
Early intervention will aim to stop that intend on carrying a knife and working with retailers, youth groups, charities and other partners are a vital part of a community-led policing response. Forces will continue to work closely with young people to further understand the reasons why individuals carry knives and also to educate them around the dangers of carrying one.
Most importantly, the week will aim to highlight that there are no positives to carrying a knife.
Chief Inspector John Halfacre, the knife crime lead at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said:
“‘Reducing knife crime remains a top priority for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary as well as policing nationally. Operation Sceptre is a nationally coordinated week of action and an opportunity to highlight some of the activity that takes place across the force area week-in-week-out to tackle serious violence related to knife crime.
“We will employ tactics that are both enforcement and prevention based and include stop and search, weapon sweeps, intelligence led action against habitual knife carriers, test purchase operations, raising awareness of knife retailers, educational input and community engagement events.
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PCC Donna Jones said:
“The impact of knife crime on individuals, families and communities is truly devastating and long lasting, that’s why tackling knife crime is one of the top priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.
“Operation Sceptre is a focused week of action which will see the police direct additional resources to those believed to be carrying knives. However, the drivers for knife crime and the solutions are complicated. More police on the streets and an increased use of stop and search is a deterrent. This is why I am recruiting 600 extra police officers here in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“The impact of knife crime on individuals, families and communities is truly devastating and long lasting.
If you are aware of anyone who carries a knife or have concerns that someone you know may carry a knife, report it to police or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The ONLY effective answer to reduce the level of knife crime is to ensure that anyone who carries a knife or weapon is jailed for a minimum term of at least 3 years if they threaten anyone with that weapon.
There will always be some who will still do so, but it would prevent the cool culture of carrying a blade. Much of this type of crime has been imported, as once few would carry machete’s or knives, but have copied those who do.
Clearly many people carry knives for work, etc, so it is not the knife that is the problem, but the fact any dangerous instrument CAN be lethal such as a screwdriver, SO the law should make the threat and USE of it a jailable offence to do any good.
The rest is just lip service, and useless
Always Hampshire then Isle of Wight… and British Transport Police.. / Well I am certain none of them will be on this Island.. A government money going towards this ‘ event’ will only go to Hampshire, nothing for Isle of Wight… We need to be on our own county not attached to Hampshire… it is crippling this Island just like the ferries…
I expect we will get some old dear, hand in a kitchen knife or axe, and have some stern faced Chief of Police holding it, saying ” This is one less weapon that ‘could’ have fallen into the hands of a potential knife attacker”
And other old dears, may feel a little safer, but the rest of us know, it will make no difference.
Nor will talking to the children, for they will be told ‘If you think carrying a knife makes you safer, it could be used against you’ etc, but the young will ask, ‘so are the Police who carry guns more ‘unsafe’ then?
The young aren’t as naive as playschool children anymore.
Mores the pity, but they rightly don’t trust words from those who don’t live in their world.