POLICE ARREST FOUR AS 120 KNIVES ARE ‘TAKEN OFF STREETS’
Store also found selling blade to someone underage
POLICE have taken more than 100 blades off the streets of Staffordshire as part of an ongoing operation against knife crime.
The latest phase of Operation Sceptre ran from November 14 to November 27 and saw a total of 120 knives surrendered at police stations including Hanley and Longton
Police also conducted a series of weapon sweeps and stop-andsearches with partners including local charity Chit Chat 4U.
The organisation supports parents of those who are victims of or involved in gangs, youth violence and knife crime. The sweeps resulted in seven knives being recovered, as well as four arrests.
The operation also saw Stokeon-trent City Council’s Trading Standards teams conduct test purchases across Staffordshire, with one store found to have sold a knife to underage individuals, while nine stores successfully refused to allow them to purchase the blades.
Police also visited a total of 60 schools to highlight the dangers of carrying a knife and encourage those at risk of knife crime to get help and support.
Chief Inspector Robert Hessell, force lead for knife crime, said: “It’s vitally important that we continue to highlight and encourage conversations around knife crime within our communities.
“This operation was designed to challenge the stereotypes and stigma surrounding knife crime.
“It is usually the case that the majority of young people will never be affected by knife crime, but by encouraging awareness and providing a safe space for people to ditch their blades, we hope we have helped to continue to make our communities are safer places
to be.” It comes after The Sentinel reported in June that almost 300 knives have been taken off the streets of Staffordshire as part of a major operation lasting six days. They were recovered from across the county during Operation Sceptre.
And earlier this month police were combing popular parks in Kidsgrove for weapons as part of the ongoing crackdown on knife crime in the county.
Officers carried out a sweep of Kidsgrove’s Clough Hall Park, Birchenwood Country Park and Bathpool Park.
A similar operation took place in parks across Stoke-on-trent last year, after police revealed that gangs would hide weapons ready for future fights.