9 arrests during week-long crackdown on knife crime in Cambridgeshire
Searches were also carried out in Wisbech
Last updated 25th Nov 2020
Cambridgeshire Police arrested 9 people and seized three knives during a week-long crackdown on knife crime (9-15 November).
Six further blades were handed in at police stations across the county.
Officers also searched parks, school perimeters and green spaces in Wisbech for weapons, as well as visiting 14 addresses where Border Force had intecepted the sale of a weapon to explain why the purchase had been blocked.
More than 350 people took part in a virtual Q&A session with police on Facebook held during the week.
In Cambridgeshire, offences involving knives or sharp instruments rose 58 per cent from 908 incidents in 2018 to 1,436 incidents in 2019. Between January and October this year there have been 1,178 offences.
On average, officers are arresting three people a week in Cambridgeshire for knife related offences (168 in 2018, 199 in 2019 and 168 between Jan-Oct 2020).
Superintendent Robin Sissons said:
"Knife crime is one of the force priorities and our officers are committed to investing time and effort into tackling it to ensure our communities are safer and people are protected from serious harm.
"Our work to tackle knife crime and serious violence is not limited to this week of action and will continue throughout the year, acting on intelligence to arrest violent criminals and take weapons off the streets."
Anyone who knows someone who carries a knife can report it here or anonymously, via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.