Week of action focuses on serious violence

It’s Northamptonshire Police’s fourth 2023 #MatterOfPriority week of action and this time, the spotlight is shining on serious violence.

Led by Chief Inspector Scott Little and in partnership with other organisations including CIRV and Off the Streets, the week will highlight the devastating effects of knife crime through enforcement activity, prevention work and community engagement.

Work will take place to speak to young people in local schools as well as promote the knife bins and bleed kits located across the county.

Test purchase operations will also be taking place to ensure that knives are not being sold irresponsibly to young people.

Chief Inspector Little, said: “We have done a lot of work over the past couple of years to place tackling knife crime at the front and centre of everything we do and this week is an opportunity to highlight that work and again, to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying a knife.

“We’ll also be highlighting the bleed kits located across Northamptonshire, an initiative created by Wellingborough based charity - Off the Streets, which sees numerous kits installed across the county which can be used by people in the event of a major incident in which someone has a serious bleed.

“The week will also be an opportunity for people to contact their local neighbourhood policing team to book an appointment to collect any knives they want to safely dispose of.

“During the week of action, we’ll also be tackling serious violence as a whole through various enforcement operations, community engagement events and the beat bus on patrol.”

This week is the fourth in a twelve-week surge to tackle Northamptonshire Police’s four matters of priority - violence against women and girls, drug harm, serious and organised crime and serious violence.

Chief Inspector Little added: “Finally, though lots of work will be taking place this week, I would also like to take this opportunity to ask that any members of the public who may have information relating to serious violence in their community, to contact us. Your community intelligence could be vital and will allow us to build up a bigger picture of what is going on in our county and where we need to focus our resources in the future.”

If you have information that you would like to pass onto us, please call us on 101 or report online at www.northants.police.uk/ro. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.