Thames Valley Police reveal anti-knife campaign results
Operation sceptre took place last week
A national anti-knife campaign has led to 35 arrests for knife related crime in the Thames Valley.
Operation Sceptre - which took place last week - also included a knife amnesty and Thames Valley Police say they have taken more than 260 knives off the streets - 96 in Berkshire.
Knife amnesty bins were placed into 11 police stations across the Thames Valley, allowing members of the public to dispose of unwanted knives safely, in order to prevent them from finding their way onto the streets.
Overall, a total of over 250 knives and bladed articles were handed in throughout the week.
Police across the force also carried out a number of other proactive activities in an effort to tackle knife crime, which included 135 inputs to schools by officers and working in partnership with the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit to launch our PC Ben initiative.
In addition, 85 test purchase operations were also carried out in partnership with Trading Standards, cadets and police volunteers at retailers across the force as well as officers attending community meetings and conducting high visibility patrols.
Assistant Chief Constable Christian Bunt, force lead for Operation Sceptre, said:
“Thames Valley Police is wholly committed to reducing the threat of knife crime within our communities.
“Operation Sceptre is a national week of action that highlights our work to tackle this crime type, however it is important to stress that our work continues beyond this week of action.
“The public have an important part to play also in helping to keep knives off our streets. They can help us as additional eyes and ears in our fight against serious violence and knife crime. By making a report to us you could help save a life.”
How to report concerns around knife crime
If you are worried that someone you know is using violence or is carrying a knife, please report it. We can then take the necessary steps to safeguard them and identify those responsible.
If you need to report a knife related crime to police, please report it to us online via our website, call 101 or dial 999 in an emergency if there is an immediate danger to life.
Op Sceptre results broken down by county:
Buckinghamshire – 120 knives and bladed articles
Berkshire – 96 knives and bladed articles
Oxfordshire – 44 knives and bladed articles
More details about Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit - https://www.tvvru.co.uk/