100 knives handed over during police’s Operation Sceptre
MORE than 100 knives were handed over in Berkshire during a week-long amnesty earlier this month.
Thames Valley Police said its Operation Sceptre was a success.
The initiative, held in May and November, aims to deliver education and raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime, as well as getting the weapons off the streets.
The force says that all recorded knife crime is trending down 4% when comparing October 1, 2022-October 31, 2023 with the same period for the year before.
Officers conducted almost 1,200 high visibility patrols in hotspots, and carried out more than 110 age-verification test purchases on knives, with 27 retailers receiving penalties.
They also visited people known to carry knives or be involved in violence to give advice and remind that any offending will lead to arrest, while also offering support if they wanted help. Some people were targeted using Stop &
Search powers, leading to 40 arrests and the seizure of 12 knives.
Officers, PCSOs and staff participated in 70 education sessions, visiting schools and running engagement events to raise awareness of the dangers of knives and exploitation.
The knife amnesty bins, which are permanently installed across the Thames Valley, resulted in 337 knives being handed in for safe disposal, with 107 of them coming from Berkshire.
Superintendent Lewis Prescott-Mayling, Strategic Lead for Serious Violence Reduction, Thames Valley Police, said: “We have seen some good results from our activity during the week.
“Our policing approach is to target places and people.
“We put our resources into those areas where we know violence occurs, with high visibility policing to act as a deterrent.
“For hot people – those who we know are involved in knife crime or other associated offences such as drugs supply – we use all of our powers to apply pressure, disrupt them and where necessary arrest and put them before the courts.
“The knife amnesty bins are always available to anyone – no details are taken, no questions are asked. If you have a weapon, now is the time to get rid of it. Don’t put yourself at risk of prosecution and most importantly, don’t put yourself or others at risk of harm.”
The results of the week were welcomed by Matthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley.
“Tackling serious violence and the scourge of knife crime remains a high priority,” he said. “Thanks to the strong policing action being taken together with partnership education, early intervention and prevention efforts led by the Violence Reduction Unit, we are having an effect and knife crime continues to fall here in the Thames Valley.
“However, there is still much that we must do together to stop the tragic incidents that ruin lives and spread fear in our communities.
“Operation Sceptre is just one week, but here in the Thames Valley we maintain this focus right throughout the year.”