Week of heightened action concentrating on knife crime concludes

A positive week of action highlighting different strands of our response to tackling knife crime has now concluded.

Last week as part of Sceptre, officers from across the Force conducted a range of prevention, education, engagement and enforcement activities to demonstrate there is no place for knife crime on our streets.

From May 13-19:

• 30 knives and bladed articles were surrendered in the six surrender bins
• 51 weapons sweeps were conducted, with no knives found
• 32 stop searches conducted, with one knife found
• 26 engagement and knife awareness sessions at schools and within the community, including visits with the knife arch to various schools
• 2 knife related arrests made

As part of the week, fifty-two knife test purchase operations using police cadets were also conducted across the county.

Disappointingly, 18 of these failed. Sixteen of these were for allowing cadets under the age of 18 to illegally purchase knives and bladed articles. The other two were for failing the Challenge 25 policy, where sellers challenge anyone they think is under 25 for proof of age.

A new permanent knife surrender bin was also installed in Devizes at the Wiltshire Football Association Headquarters – the first outside Swindon.

County Superintendent Doug Downing said: “Sceptre provides all police forces with a great opportunity to shine a light on the year-round work they do on the dangers associated with knife crime, so that hopefully people never make the decision to carry a weapon.

“Across the week, hundreds of our young people were educated on the dangers of carrying knives. We know that some young people carry knives out of fear, thinking they will be safer, but we know that statistically that is not the case.

“You are much more likely to be the victim of a knife attack if you have made the decision to carry a knife yourself.

“The test purchase operations using our excellent police cadets was also revealing as it shows not all stores are doing their due diligence in correctly checking ID.

“The stores were given oral warnings or words of advice. We all have a role to play in ensuring knife crime is addressed in our communities.

“We must remember that Wiltshire remains a very safe county to live in and we are fully committed to keeping it safe.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: "Knife crime has a devastating effect on victims, their families and the wider community and I continue to be concerned that public perception, and particularly the perception of young people isn’t reflective of the reality in Wiltshire and Swindon and perpetuates further crime. 

“I’m reassured that despite more than 50 weapon sweeps by neighbourhood officers no weapons were found, but I am concerned that one in three shops failed the test purchases and sold knives to underage police cadets.

“Reducing serious violence and harm is a key priority in my Police and Crime and Plan, and I know Chief Constable Roper shares my commitment to driving down violence in our communities.

“Education and early intervention plays a key role in breaking the cycle and guiding those at risk of committing knife crime away from criminality and I continue to commission specialist services to engage, support and divert young people.

"By continuing to work with partners to disparage any misconceptions through proper education, we can continue to drive down the trend of young people carrying weapons for perceived self-defence and make the streets of Wiltshire safer."

During the Sceptre intensification week, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) worked with Border Force to crack down on the importation of illegal weapons.

Officers carried out 15 visits across the South West to people who bought weapons online, which included flick knives, karambits, butterfly knives and swords. Cease and desist notices that demand the recipient immediately stops their illegal activity were issued and one person was arrested and released on bail conditions.

Many of the people visited were unaware the weapons bought were illegal and so advice and education was provided by the officers. In one case a young person had purchased a weapon without the knowledge of the parent.

SWROCU DI Lucy Edgeworth, who sits on the National Knife Crime Working Group, said: “SWROCU is committed to tackling the importation of illegal knives into the South West by working closely with Wiltshire Police and partners to offer advice and assistance and to disrupt this area of criminality.

“The devastation caused by knife crime continues to fracture our communities and destroy lives. I urge parents to have conversations with their children, to search rooms and bags and to know what knives are in your kitchen as they are the most common weapon used to cause serious injury in the UK.”