Officers visiting Cumbria's schools to educate young on dangers of knives

Police officers will be visiting schools in the area next week as part of a national knife crime initiative aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of carrying a knife.

Operation Sceptre begins on Monday (11 Nov) and is a national policing operation which aims to make streets safer across the country via a number of means including by providing the opportunity for potentially dangerous and harmful blades to be removed from our streets by giving people the opportunity to dispose of knives anonymously and safely in amnesty bins at local Police Stations.

In Cumbria, the focus of the week will be on educating young people, as well as supporting the national focus around robberies involving knives (knife-enabled robbery), which will see officers locally conducting intelligence-led patrols.

Officers from the Constabulary’s Child Centred Policing Team will be visiting schools and colleges to speak about the potential consequences facing anyone who possesses a knife on the street.

In addition, the Manchester Bee Monument anti-violence statue is also currently in Barrow and will be for the next fortnight following a joint initiative to bring it to the county involving Drop Zone Youth Projects, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria Police.

Along side this, the Child Centred Policing Team has also liaised with the 'JJ Effect' to bring their hard-hitting, youth focused presentations to South Cumbria. The talks on the dangers of knives are due to be heard by hundreds of pupils during Op Sceptre week, at Barrow Town Hall.

Chief Inspector Sam Turner said: “Cumbria Police supports each national Sceptre operation as we seek to do all we can to ensure Cumbria remains one of the safest places in the country to live, visit or work in.

“We aim to keep it that way by speaking to young people at an early age and educating them about why it is indefensible and completely unnecessary to carry a knife as a potential weapon.

“We are also encouraging people to take advantage of the amnesty bins if they would like to get rid of any potentially dangerous knives.

“Handing a knife in is a quick process and your action will help make your community a safer place.”

Someone in possession of a knife is not only increasing the risk of harm to themselves but could also face a fine of £5,000 and a four-year prison sentence.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Knife Crime can have devastating effects on communities as a whole – not just the victim and perpetrator.

“Being in possession of a weapon means that you are more likely to use it or have it used against you– this is a risk none of us should take.

“Operation Sceptre is a positive, pro-active initiative that ensures potential weapons are taken off our streets before they can be used.

“I would urge anyone with any unused knives or other weapons to hand them into one of the Police Stations taking part in the amnesty. I would also encourage parents to speak to their children about the potential repercussions of carrying and using a knife on our streets.”

Anyone wishing to hand a knife or bladed article in should put them in a box or strong bag. Never attempt to take an uncovered knife or bladed article out in public. Members of the public are also advised to go directly to a designated station when handing in such items.

The stations where knives or bladed articles can be handed in are:

• Carlisle
• Barrow
• Kendal
• Whitehaven
• Workington

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