145 knives recovered by Avon and Somerset Police during knife crime campaign
Operation Sceptre aims to reduce the number of knives on the streets
Avon and Somerset Police have recovered 145 knives off the streets of bristol during a national knife crime campaign.
Polices forces nationwide intensify efforts over the week as part of Operation Sceptre.
Several weapon amnesty bins were located across the force area - with 127 knives surrendered into them alone.
Officers also took part in 32 sweeps resulting in the recovery of 16 knives.
82 retailers across the region were visited by officers to check their compliance with the law - which forbids them to sell knives to under 18s.
In total, 22 stores failed and sold a knife to a child.
They've been, or will be, issued guidance and warning noticesfrom the force.
Highlights from Operation Sceptre
- 22 community meetings and educational visits to schools and youth groups including delivery of the Blunt Truth workshop – a collaboration with the NHS.
- 20 intelligence led high visibility patrols in areas of high demand
- Six community leaflet drops informing about the change to the Offensive Weapons Act – making items that were previously legal to possess in private now illegal
- Social media campaign with a reach of 150k impressions, using pop up ads in specific apps targeting 12-25yr olds, signposting them to anonymous knife crime reporting via Fearless.org
- Avon and Somerset Police’s lead for knife crime, Chief Inspector James Turner said: “There are now 145 fewer knives that could be used to cause serious harm on our streets, as a direct result of last week’s operation.
- “Of course, our work to tackle knife crime goes on all year round. There’s number of projects and areas of focus we are pursuing as we head into 2022, including working with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and local communities to consider where and how we can make more knife surrender bins available.
- We’re also upscaling the delivery of our Blunt Truth workshops so that more schools and community groups in Avon and Somerset can benefit from this fantastic project.
- For more information visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/knifecrime
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