Teamwork & education central to cutting knife crime, say Norfolk Police
Anyone can give up knives anonymously and not face prosecution, this week
Last updated 16th Nov 2021
Teamwork and education is at the heart of Norfolk Police's plan to get knives off our streets this week.
That's according to Inspector Ian Cox, at the start of a national intensification week, which encourages people to freely and anonymously give up any bladed weapons they may have.
He told us that the level of knife crime in Norfolk is continuing to fall:
"We've seen a fairly significant decrease in the last year. Yes, we'd be naĂŻve not to account some of that due to the pandemic but it would support the work that we have been doing over time to try and get the number of knives in the county down and reduce the number crimes involving knives themselves".
Inspector Cox also told us how education and awareness about knife crime is being made central to their plans:
"We are doing some work with our partners in trading standards to push that education message based around trying to reduce the number of knives on the streets. We are also trying to encourage people to surrender their knives, so we have processing places at our three main stations in Norwich, Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth".
He went on to say that the entire service being focussed on the issue is crucial:
"We've got divisional buy in from the whole of the County. Our dog unit, our road and policing teams, along with our partnerships with the British Transport Police and Trading standards. So it's a real team effort across the county. We are also working closely with safer schools partnership, so they have an engagement process throughout the week to try and push the message out to the young residents of Norfolk".
Mr Cox concluded by saying that it's just not worth having these type of weapons:
"By carrying a knife you're putting yourself in much greater danger. You're more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get yourself or somebody you care about, injured. So absolutely don't carry one, there may be people out there that have a knife but don't know how to dispose of them. Every single knife seized makes a real difference".