South Yorkshire Police say they're making progress on tackling knife crime
A week of dedicated action around the issue is taking place within the force this week
South Yorkshire Police tell us they believe they're 'making progress' around tackling knife crime across Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, and Rotherham.
A week of dedicated action around the issue is taking place within the force this week - as part of the national policing campaign - which is known as Operation Sceptre.
Detective Superintendent David Cowley is the force lead for violent crime - He says they're targeting a number of hotspots to try & catch people carrying weapons:
"I think a lot of the areas where we are having issues with knife crime are in and around the night-time economies.
"As well as built up areas and city and town centres. So that's where we are focusing our activity.
"Admissions to hospitals for stabbing type incidents are decreasing.
"Decreasing over the last 12 to 18 months. Particularly those involving under 25's.
"Serious violent crime involving knives is also decreasing.
"But we are not going to become complacent, we know we've got work to do here.
The force are urging the public to trust them more, calling for people across South Yorkshire 'not to be scared' about letting the police know about those who're carrying knives in different communities.
DS David Cowley says:
"We are committed to dealing with those reports and the intelligence.
"So if people are concerned about retribution then things can be reported anonymously by Crimestoppers for example.
"So we need to know because otherwise we don.t have a complete picture of what's going on".