PCC welcomes knives op

CHESHIRE’S PCC has praised an operation which has taken 50 knives off the streets.

David Keane has backed a week long operation carried out by Cheshire police to tackle knife crime.

The constabulary took part in the national Operation Sceptre initiative which saw officers target people who carry and use knives.

Knife surrender bins were placed at police sta- tions and recycling centres in across the county and 50 knives and one BB air gun were handed in over the week.

A variety of knives were handed to the police ranging from standard kitchen knives to dangerous weapons such as samurai swords.

Mr Keane said: “The results from this campaign have been very encouraging. It’s fantastic that the constabulary has managed to take 50 more dangerous weapons off the streets.

“This is testament to officers targeting their activity in areas across Cheshire which see the highest incidences of knife crime.”

He added: “Thankfully Cheshire doesn’t have a large knife crime problem. But as we have seen all too often in cases across the country, if people carry a knife a minor dispute can soon become a devastating incident.”

As part of the operation the constabulary worked with other organisations including trading standards to speak to shop owners about the ‘Challenge 25’ campaign to stop the sale of knives to under 18s. Officers also went into schools to talk to pupils about the dangers of carrying these weapons. Police are said to be working ‘extremely hard’ to eradicate knife crime.