Avon & Somerset Police report 18% drop in knife crime
It comes as the force begins Sceptre Week, a national initiative dedicated to tackling knife-related violence
Avon and Somerset Police have announced an 18 per cent fall in recorded knife crime over the past year, marking significant progress as the force begins Sceptre Week, a national initiative dedicated to tackling knife-related violence.
The week of action, which starts today (17 November), brings police forces across the country together to reinforce prevention messaging and highlight the life-changing consequences of carrying a weapon.
While enforcement and education continue year-round, Sceptre Week offers a high-visibility platform to engage communities and drive home the dangers associated with knives.
"needlessly tearing families apart and increasing fear in our communities"
Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Edgeworth, newly appointed as the force’s Knife Crime Lead, said the reduction reflects strong collaboration between police, partner agencies, and the public.
She said: “We’ve seen in recent years how young people carrying knives has had fatal consequences, needlessly tearing families apart and increasing fear in our communities.
“The latest knife crime figures suggest that our combined efforts to reduce violent crime, with partners and the public, are working.
“But this is a long-term challenge – and we must not become complacent. We’ll continue focusing our resources on addressing the root causes of serious violence, from early education and intervention strategies that empower children to make safe choices, to tackling the accessibility of weapons and holding retailers to account for unlawfully selling blades to under-18s.
“As a mother of teenagers, a detective and now the knife crime lead for the force, I'm determined to do all we can to prevent further harm to children and the wider community.
"My message to parents, carers and other responsible adults is please stay alert to where your children are outside of school, who they spend their time with, and any concerning changes in their behaviour.
"You can use our partner resources to speak to them openly about the consequences of carrying a knife.”
Leading the Way in Prevention and Education
Avon and Somerset is pioneering new approaches to knife crime education, recognising that most offences committed by under-18s involve possession, not use.
Although only a small proportion of young people choose to carry knives, police and partners across schools, health, social care, community groups and the voluntary sector are focused on reaching all young people with preventative messaging.
One of the latest initiatives is Safer Together, a ground-breaking educational resource developed by Bristol-based social enterprise Unique Voice, in collaboration with Avon and Somerset Police and Crimestoppers.
The project centres on a powerful short film created by 15 young people, exploring how knife crime affects their lives, families and futures.
More than 600 students took part in workshops and creative sessions that fed into the development of the resource.
Originally born in Bristol, Safer Together has now grown into a national tool for schools and community organisations, aiming to spark open conversation and help young people make safer choices.
Krystal Keeley, Director at Unique Voice, said: “This is Bristol creativity at its best – using storytelling, empathy and collaboration to address one of the most pressing issues facing young people today.
“We’ve seen first-hand the power of giving young people a platform to lead change, and now we’re proud to share this approach with communities nationwide.”