Northumbria Police: Op Sceptre returns.
Force increase activity to tackle knife crime
Save a life, ditch the knife.
This week, Northumbria Police are once again joining a national week of action to tackle knife crime as Operation Sceptre returns.
The dedicated initiative builds on work already being carried out round the clock by officers, staff and volunteers to help reduce the harm and devastation knives and weapons can cause in our communities.
From Monday, red surrender bins will return to stations across the Force area, offering people the opportunity to hand over any unwanted blades or sharp objects and have them disposed of safely.
Officers will also be out targeting suspects, carrying out additional patrols, searches and warrants, as well as working with partners, including the local authority and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).
The newest cohort of police cadets will also be lending a hand to the operation.
Colleagues in the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) will also be visiting pupils across schools and colleges to engage with young people.
Superintendent Scott Cowie, from Northumbria Police’s Prevention Department, said: “Every day we are working hard to keep people safe and reduce the impact of knife crime on families and the wider community.
“As part of Operation Sceptre, we will be building on this activity, to further show how seriously we take reports of people carrying and using weapons.
“While enforcement activity is undoubtedly an important tool to help us seize items and put people before the courts, education is essential to change attitudes, highlight the potential consequences of carrying knives and make sure the message is heard loud and clear that it is completely unacceptable to go out with a weapon.
“I would also ask people to work with us and play their part by bringing in unwanted knives and sharp objects into our surrender bins and making sure that suspicious behaviour is reported.
“We would also ask families to continue to have conversations about the dangers of carrying knives – and if you suspect someone is going out doing so to let us know so we can take positive action.”
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “Too often, throughout the country, we see the terrible consequences of carrying a knife. Only last week Leeds suffered the loss of another young life and here in the North East, we know how that feels. We’ve had our share of similar devastation before and it’s what drives so much of the work that’s happening across the region to fight knife crime. I don’t want another family to experience that pain and suffering again. This week we want to see knives handed in, we want kids in schools to learn more around the risks and dangers and we want those who are out there, who think it’s ok to carry a knife, to be caught. Knives impact everyone and our police need everyone’s support in urging anyone who does carry a knife to think again - and stop.”
Surrender bins are now at the following stations: Southwick, Millbank, Gateshead, Forth Banks, Bedlington, Middle Engine Lane and Hexham.
They will remain in place until Sunday, November 19.
Visit the Northumbria Police website for station opening times.
Keep an eye on the Force’s social media channels for more #OpSceptre updates.
If you have information about someone who is in possession of a prohibited weapon, or want to report any suspicious activity, please get in touch with us using the Tell Us Something page on the Force website or call 101.
Alternatively, you can speak to the charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.
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KAMILA WISNIEWSKA LENDS HER SUPPORT TO OP SCEPTRE
The heart-broken mother of murdered teenager Tomasz Oleszak has made an emotional appeal to parents – calling on them help tackle knife crime before it’s too late.
Kamila Wisniewska had her ‘happy and beloved’ son taken away from her last October, when he was fatally stabbed by then 14-year-old Leighton Amies in the Springwell Estate.
Amies was later convicted and jailed for murdering 14-year-old Tomasz.
Today (Monday) Kamila has thrown her support behind Operation Sceptre, a national week of action aimed at reducing the devastation caused by knife crime.
To mark the beginning of a series of extended activity, which will see officers and partners carrying out additional patrols and searches as well as working in schools, Kamila has made a powerful appeal to parents, calling on them to help tackle the issue.
She said: “My world stopped on October 3 last year and the terrifying images of that night come back to me every day.
“I still don't believe I have lost Tomasz forever and I'm still waiting for him to come back. It's terrifying what Leighton did. How terribly he hurt Tomasz, me, my entire family, friends and our community. Words cannot express how our hearts have been torn to shreds.
“My son never hurt anyone and never wished harm on anyone. He was happy, enjoyed life and had plans for the future.
“My heart goes out to all those families who have lost someone in this way. Hearing of other children whose lives have been lost makes my blood run cold. Who do you have to be to leave home armed with a knife? What is this world coming to when children kill children?
“I really hope that people will learn lessons from our loss but that remains to be seen. I think that badness is hard to overcome, but I do believe change is possible and good should always win.
“For me, this change starts in the home. So I am asking you all, parents and guardians, please pay more attention to your children before it is too late.
“Teach them respect for others and the world. Be interested in them, ask about their private life and their problems, because sometimes it is not visible, sometimes they keep it to themselves and then it may be too late and someone will be hurt.
“If you need help and you notice bad changes in them, ask the school, psychologists or the police for help. Don't pretend that you don't see it or think that your child will just change, because more often change doesn’t happen and tragedy can happen.”
If you would like to get rid of a knife, or sharp object surrender bins are now at the following stations: Southwick, Millbank, Gateshead, Forth Banks, Bedlington, Middle Engine Lane and Hexham.
They will remain in place until Sunday, November 19.
Visit the Northumbria Police website for station opening times.
Keep an eye on the Force’s social media channels for more #OpSceptre updates.
If you have information about someone who is in possession of a prohibited weapon, or want to report any suspicious activity, please get in touch with us using the Tell Us Something page on the Force website.
Alternatively, you can speak to the charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.