45% increase in crimes involving machetes in Northumberland
Last year there were more than 350 crimes involving a machete in the North East.
Metro Radio is investigating the use of machetes on the streets of Northumberland.
Our exclusive stats show Northumbria Police were called to more than 350 crimes involving the weapon last year (2023).
That's up from 215 in 2020 and on average nearly one every single day.
Metro Radio reporter Sophie Green's uncovered the figures as part of an investigation into crimes involving machetes in the region.
She has also spoken with paramedics at the Great North Air Ambulance Service - who're among some of those on the frontline, battling to save the lives of people who're victim to knife crime.
Critical care paramedic Gordon Ingram said: “Over my career I’ve seen a huge increase in the number of knife crime attacks and penetrating injuries through knife incidents.
“There are more and more serious knife crimes occurring every day, every week and every month.”
He said: "one of the interventions that we may have to do is open heart surgery.
"It's where we have to open up the chest, providing surgery to the heart and affected organs to try and save their life.
"But often after the incident when we're reflecting upon what we had to do is when it really hits home."
Tackling Knife Crime
In November last year (2023), Northumbria Police carried out Operation Sceptre - which builds on the extensive work officers, staff and volunteers are carrying out to tackle serious violence and take weapons off the streets.
That week of action aimed to reduce the devastation knife crime causes - it saw 142 arrests, 121 items recovered and almost 500 children educated.
Officers also carried out 146 stop and searches, 19 weapon sweeps and 81 people were visited by specialist officers after attempting to buy and import offensive weapons into the country.
Red surrender bins were also in place at a number of police stations and 90 unwanted sharp items were disposed of safely.
A total of 28 retailers were also visited alongside Trading Standards to test out their policies.
Speaking at the time (in November), Chief Superintendent Joanne Park-Simmons, Force lead for knife crime and serious youth violence, said:
“Knife crime is an issue which touches everyone across the Force area and requires a communal solution.
“As a police force, our role is to keep people safe, and to relentlessly pursue those individuals carrying and using weapons for their own gain – and putting others at risk.
“Operation Sceptre is a great way for us to show the public just how passionate and determined we are about tackling this type of criminality.
Ms Park-Simmons now runs Northumbria Police’s newly created Prevention Department.
She added: “Op Sceptre has delivered some amazing results but I want to reassure communities this is not a one-off. Enforcement activity and disruption is going on year-round, as is the work we carry out with our partners across retail, transport and a range of other areas."
As part of this investigation we will be continuing to look into knife crime.