Crackdown on knife crime has 70 weapons off the streets of East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire
Patrols have been carried out as part of a week-long campaign
Humberside Police says its taken a further 70 weapons off the streets during a week-long campaign to tackle knife crime.
A knife arch has been deployed in public areas which can detect if people are carrying a blade.
Just under ninety retailers have also been spoken to about the sale of weapons.
Sceptre is a national campaign that aims to tackle knife crime and remove unwanted knives, and other weapons, from communities.
Removing weapons from the streets is only one part of this operation, and officers also look to educate people about the risks involved in carrying knives.
The force lead for knife crime is Chief Inspector Simon Duffield, who said:
“This operation is not just about getting people to surrender their knives and weapons. Over the intense week of action, officers conducted 37 stop and searches, and teams visited 16 households on various disruption visits to educate people on the dangers of knives.
“A total of 86 shops were visited and spoken to about the sale of knives; this gave our neighbourhood policing teams a good opportunity to talk to their local retailers about how to stay within the law and make our communities safer for everyone.
“We also engaged with multiple schools, ran community meetings, and educational events across 100 locations across our force area, raising awareness of a whole host of crimes relating to weapons and carrying knives.
“Not only this, but we have been conducting targeted patrolling in areas known to have local issues, along with 133 weapon sweeps and using our knife arch in public areas.
“I am pleased to see a further 70 weapons taken off the streets, and illegal knives out of people’s homes in our force area over the past week.
“These surrenders show us that people really do want to make a difference in their communities and help us to get unwanted and dangerous weapons out of circulation.
“Knife crime can have a devastating impact on communities. Taking these weapons away mean that they cannot find their way into the hands of someone who might use it to cause harm to another person.
“I want to thank the public for their support and for the officers and staff who have worked hard during November’s operation. I hope they see this as a positive and direct way in which they can help keep their own communities safe.
“If you know someone who carries a knife or bladed weapon, please get in touch with us as this information gives us the authority we need to stop and search people suspected of carrying weapons and prosecute those who are.
“The question that needs to be asked is what’s the point? One knife impacts more than one life. We have recently launched a campaign raising awareness of knife crime and the devastating impact it has on all those involved. Find out more: https://www.humberside.police.uk/police-forces/humberside-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/whats-the-point/.”