Operation Sceptre saw 19 hotspot patrols, 31 weapon sweeps and nearly 400 weapons surrendered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight earlier this month.
The knife crime week of action known as Sceptre took place between Monday 17th and Sunday 23th November.
We made eight knife-related arrests and removed 385 offensive weapons from our streets during Sceptre. Following coordinated efforts across all districts and supported by partnership involvement, we also seized three bladed offensive weapons during stop and searches.
A significant part of Sceptre was the number of community engagement activities with 216 completed across the districts. Engaging with the community is an opportunity to have a police presence, provide reassurance and offer advice. Operations included weapon sweeps, knife arches, hotspot patrols, and pop-up community engagements and other events.
One of the core national themes for Sceptre this year is test purchasing, which are carried out to ensure knives aren’t ending up in the wrong hands and it’s an opportunity to remind retailers of their legal obligations, as well as recognising good practice.
The Violent Crime Taskforce carried out 82 visits over 3 days at local businesses and national chain retailers. There were 73 out of 82 that passed, the 9 retailers that didn’t meet the standards will be passed onto Trading Standards.
The week also focused on youth and school engagement as police officers from the Education Partnership Team, supported by local teams, to visit schools, colleges, and universities. There were a total of 56 school visits/engagements where workshops were delivered to approximately 5,000 young people.
Inspector James Barton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s tactical lead for knife crime, said:
“Sceptre is vital because it tackles knife crime head-on. Every knife taken off the streets reduces the risk of serious harm and saves lives. Our operation is not just about enforcement it is about prevention, education, and working with communities to make our streets safer. By undertaking this work, we send a clear message: carrying a knife is never worth the risk.
“We have seen strong results from working closely with key partners, demonstrating that collaboration is essential, as policing alone cannot tackle knife crime. It is reassuring to note that the majority of retailers are complying with the law, preventing the sale of knives to young people and following the Challenge 25 rule. Dealing with the accessibility of deadly and intimidating weapons is key and we are doing all we can to reduce how easily they can end up in the wrong hands. While there is still more to do, we remain fully committed to cracking down on those who break the law.
“We also met many members of our community who, like us, are determined to keep their neighbourhoods safe from serious violence, and we engaged with thousands of young people. Connecting with individuals at a young age and having open discussions is essential to educate, bust myths and prevent knife crime.
“Knife crime is devastating, and it impacts all individuals, families, and communities involved. The reality is that very few people carry knives but if someone you know is carrying a knife you can report it to the police, speak to a trusted family member or teacher, or you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said:
“We all know knife crime can have a devastating impact on communities. While it is encouraging to see nearly 400 weapons handed in, just one can kill. That’s why, through my Violence Reduction Unit, we work closely with the police, councils, schools and health bodies to ensure we identify why some young people feel the need to carry one. Often, those children are highly vulnerable to exploitation and come from very difficult backgrounds. We must therefore identify habitual knife carriers and those most at risk and support them accordingly.
“I am determined to keep our young people and communities safe, and we’ll continue to build on the good work we’ve already done here which has resulted in one of the biggest reductions in knife crime across the country.”
