Leicestershire Police takes part in national knife amnesty
Operation Sceptre aims to tackle knife crime
Leicestershire Police is joining forces up and down the country to support ‘Operation Sceptre’.
The campaign, which takes place from today (15 November) until Sunday (21 November), aims to tackle knife crime.
Operation Sceptre will see police highlighting the risks that carrying a bladed weapon can bring, as well as targeting offenders who use and carry knives in the area.
In Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland officers will carry out a range of activities, including visiting schools to talk to students; using a knife arch in key locations; carrying out knife ‘sweeps’ in parks and other locations; visiting habitual knife carriers and liaising with shops who sell knives to ensure they are challenging anyone who they believe to be under 18 and ensuring that any knives are being displayed in a safe, secure and appropriate manner.
Teachers can also sign up to anti-knife crime digital workshops for secondary schools across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
People can surrender any unwanted knives or blades safely at special amnesty bins at police station front counters.
The bins allow anybody to dispose of knives without the fear of being punished unless it is found to have been used for a criminal act.
Amnesty bins can be found at the following stations:
-Beaumont Leys Police Station
-Braunstone Police Station
-Hinckley Road Police Station
-Keyham Lane Police Station
-Mansfield House Police Station
-Spinney Hill Police Station.
Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Drummond, from the Violent and Complex Crime Unit, said:
"Whilst the vast majority of people don't carry knives or get involved with knife crime, we are working hard, with partner agencies, to tackle the knife crime offences that do occur and help prevent incidents from happening in the first place.
"Knives are dangerous and there is no place for them on our streets.
"Carrying knives or other weapons do not keep people safe.
"People who carry a knife put themselves in much greater danger and more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get injured.
"We have seen the devastating impact knife crime can have, often tearing families and communities apart, and that is why it is so important to educate people about the dangers of carrying a knife and arrest those who refuse to listen."
Grace Strong, Strategic Director of the Violence Reduction Network, added:
"The VRN is a multi-agency partnership determined to tackle the causes of violence affecting young people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
"The reasons that some young people carry and use weapons, including knives, are multiple and complex.
"The police are an active member of the VRN and play a crucial role in tackling knife-related violence but we all have a part to play when it comes to prevention.
"By providing the right support and interventions and through involving young people and communities in the solutions, we can reduce and prevent violence.
"The VRN currently fund a range of initiatives in schools, communities, health and criminal justice settings with this aim.
"Accurate and balanced information for young people about knife carrying is also vital.
"We’re pleased to have supported the police in developing the ‘We don’t carry, lives not knives’ information campaign for 12-25-year olds and encourage everyone to promote these resources across their networks."
Leicestershire Police’s anti-knife crime campaign ‘We Don’t Carry #Livesnotknives’ has been developed with teenagers and young people specifically in mind.
It aims to educate them about the dangers of carrying a knife as early as possible.
It’s hoped that by highlighting the consequences and offering practical solutions and advice, the campaign will prevent people from picking up a knife in the first place.
Anybody who is looking for help and support can visit Leicestershire Police’s website.