Suffolk Police reflect on Op Sceptre amid knife crime crackdown
Operation Sceptre saw an intensified period of policing focused on the clamping down of illegal blades
Police in Suffolk have been working with officers across the country this week as part of a national campaign against knife crime - and are now sharing their reflection on their seven days of action.
Operation Sceptre sees officers carry out education sessions and knife sweeps, with amnesty bins placed at local stations.
It all aims to shine a spotlight on reducing knife crime and serious violence through education, engagement, prevention and enforcement.
In fact, earlier this week, they announced that the installation of a new knife amnesty bin in Newmarket this week brings the total in Suffolk to 10.
The new bin in Exning Street is outside the leisure centre, and comes as the police continue their working with partners, local businesses and also working closely with schools and colleges to educate on the dangers of carrying a knife.
'Reducing the accessibility of knives is key'
Sergeant Jamie Vincent said: “Carrying a knife or any other weapon does not keep you safe; instead it puts you and other lives’ at greater risk of injury and violence.
“This week we will be highlighting the work we do year-round with partners, educating settings, community groups and businesses to understand how we can tackle the root causes of knife crime and associated criminality to ensure our local communities remain safe.
“Reducing the accessibility of knives is key and the sale of knives online is currently being examined by the Home Office. It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18 and officers will also be visiting local retailers this week to remind them of their responsibility around the safe sale of knives.
“Suffolk Constabulary will continue to take robust action to those who break the law and remain committed to proactively tackling knife crime and violent offending.”
'Prevention is better than cure'
Sergeant Jamie Vincent told us: "It's been a successful week. We've conducted quite a few engagement visits at local schools, focusing on 13 to 17-year-olds.
"At those vulnerable ages, people are most at risk of carrying a knife.
"We've also conducted various weapon sweeps around locations where people tend to carry knives, too.
"Prevention is better than cure, so our week of action is a brilliant way of educating people about the dangers of knives.
"At the end of the day, we don't want to prosecute people if we can avoid it.
"From the statistics in Suffolk, the message really does get across - between June 2023 and June 2024, we had 303 reports of incidents involving knives.
"That's a 37.5% reduction on the previous year."
You can read more about knife crime on the Suffolk Police website.