Number of recorded knife crimes in Norfolk falls for third year in a row
It comes as our police service are taking part in 'Operation Sceptre- this week's national campaign, which aims to tackle and prevent knife crime
Last updated 20th May 2022
The number of recorded knife crimes in Norfolk has continued to fall for the third year in a row, according to latest Government data.
It comes during this week's national campaign, 'Operation Spectre' where county services including Norfolk's double their effort to tackle knife crime.
"This week we're looking at engaging the younger community"
Detective Inspector Ian Cox says the seven days of action, involves more than knife bins: "We've also got a wide range of activities including targeted hot-spot patrols, weapons sweeps at key locations, some targeted activity towards known offenders.
"Along side that we've got a lot of education activities with safer schools and other partner agencies."
He also told us it's so important to try and stop the issue at source: "The more knives that we can take off the streets, the better. The education piece we're pushing, is in order to highlight to young people the awareness about the risks of carrying a knife.
"If you are carrying a knife you are actually putting yourself in more danger and are more likely to become more involved in a violent situation.
"It's also about encouraging people to report others, if they know they're carrying knives".
Mr Cox went on to say that the twice yearly re-doubling of efforts, subtly changes it's focus every-time: "The last Operation Sceptre was particularly targeted towards the night-time economy and what we could do to get that message across.
"But this week we're looking at engaging the younger community, supporting our partner agency, Safer Schools with the key messages and doing work with our cadets and other groups to get that message out and to hopefully stop people carrying knives in the future".
"Norfolk does remain a really safe place, but it doesn't mean that our work stops"
He concluded by telling us that while the picture's positive, but there's no time for complacency: "Norfolk does remain a really safe place, but it doesn't mean that our work stops.
"Operation Sceptre supports the work that carries on throughout the year to remove knives, target offenders and continue that educational messaging to hopefully ensure people don't carry the knives in the future."
Knife and offensive weapon offences resulting in a caution or sentence by Norfolk police:
277 (2011)
220 (2012)
191 (2013)
216 (2014)
243 (2015)
253 (2016)
275 (2017)
323 (2018)
318 (2019)
273 (2020)
244 (2021)
(Source: Ministry of Justice)