Weapons seized and arrests made in knife crime week of action

Hundreds of weapons were taken off the streets during a week of action tackling knife crime.

Last week, Northamptonshire Police joined together with other forces across the UK to take part in Operation Sceptre an initiative to tackle knife crime.

During the week, officers arrested eight people, recovered 492 weapons from knife amnesty bins, visited 14 schools and conducted seven weapon sweeps.

Engaging with young people was a crucial part of the week, offering advice and education about the risks of carrying and using knives.

As well as visiting schools, the Youth Violence Intervention Unit visited children identified as being at risk of becoming embroiled in knife crime, while members of the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team worked with colleagues from West Northamptonshire Council to host a basketball event on the town’s Racecourse.

Detective Superintendent Andy Glenn oversaw the week’s activity. He said: “Tackling serious violence, including knife crime, is a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police, and is something we spend a lot of time working on to help drive-down the number of incidents that take place in the county.

“Operation Sceptre allows us to focus all our proactive activity at this one crime type, working closely with other organisations to engage and educate while also taking enforcement action against those involved in knife crime.”

The Emergency Services Cadets also helped during the week, taking part in test purchase operations at shops, while bleed kit training also took place.

Det Supt Glenn added: “Reducing knife crime is a team effort, it’s not something the police can solve on their own.

“This week has shown the value of other organisations, community groups and the public coming together to help get to the root causes of why people carry knives. This is something we’re doing as part of the Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership.

“I urge anyone who has any information about knife crime, or concerns about someone who may be carrying a weapon to contact us or Crimestoppers anonymously. We can offer support and advice to you. More information is available at northants.police.uk/knifecrime.”

Officers from Northamptonshire Police were joined by colleagues from the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner during some of their activities last week.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Danielle Stone, said: “It’s so important that all our local services work together and have those conversations about why people – and in particular young people – are choosing to carry knives.

“Early intervention and raising awareness of knife crimes in schools and youth clubs is a hugely important part of that process, as well as making sure there is a joint approach among our many local agencies to reducing the amount of knives and weapons that are being carried around on our streets.

“I know reducing knife crime is something that our residents across the county feel incredibly passionate about. I share that passion, and so it has been a delight in my first few weeks as the new commissioner to hear about the proactive work that has been taking place as part of Operation Sceptre. I look forward to engaging with it further and seeing the impact it will have on improving safety in our local communities.”

West Northamptonshire Council’s Community Safety Team joined the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team at an engagement event at the Racecourse last Wednesday.

Cllr David Smith, WNC Cabinet member for Planning and Communities, said: “Keeping our communities safe is a top priority for the council and I’m pleased we have been able to work with the police and other agencies during Operation Sceptre to strengthen our commitment to tackling crime and serious violence.

“This operation is a perfect example of partnership working, with agencies coming together to support each other with one shared purpose – safer streets in West Northamptonshire.”