Knife Crime In Sussex: Police Pledge Concentrated Campaign From Today

Today, Monday April 26, saw the start of what Sussex Police are calling a "week of action" to tackle knife crime throughout the More Radio area.

What officers are calling "Operation Sceptre" is intended to focus on crime prevention, and education about the consequences of carrying a knife.

Police have pledged to carry out targeted operations alongside partner agencies. 

According to the county's police service, Sussex "is a safe place to live".

But, putting aside significant falls in violence during lockdown periods, offences involving knives have been rising in recent years — and this has been in line with statistics collected nationally.

Superintendent Stu Hale said:

"Reducing knife crime and knife possession is a key priority for Sussex Police and we are determined to take harmful items off our streets. 

"Operation Sceptre is an opportunity to have vital conversations with the public around knife crime.

"Our message is clear: carrying a knife is dangerous and does not make you safer, it puts you at more risk of coming to harm.

"As part of our week of action we're carrying out educational activities, amnesty and targeted operations to raise awareness among at-risk groups and disrupt crime in action.   

"This week intensifies our year-round tactics to address knife crime by engaging with young people in schools, using our knife crime engagement van and our work with partners to ensure people are signposted to help at an early opportunity.

"We also work hard to target disrupt prolific offenders, through teams such as the Special Enforcement Unit, Tactical Enforcement Unit through days of action."

This week, police said they expect to work closely with Border Force to monitor attempts to import weapons and will also work locally with schools and community members offering engagement and prevention advice to young people.

In addition to extra patrols, officers will also work with retailers and Trading Standards, including retailers that operate online, to ensure weapons are kept off our streets.

Activity also includes target stop and search against habitual knife carriers and previous offenders and weapon sweeps by police officers.

As always, knife amnesty bins where people can safely dispose of dangerous or unwanted knives and blades at police stations across Sussex.

These offer a safe dumping-place for blades, and no questions will be asked.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty, said:

"Coronavirus has been a huge part of everyone’s lives for over a year now but we want to remind people that our normal policing role hasn’t stopped during this time.

"Forces are determined to tackle violent crime and with the restrictions easing, taking knives off our streets and helping people understand the dangers of carrying a knife remains a top priority.

"Our work with Border Force, Trading Standards, the Violence Reduction Units and many other partners means we are able to tackle some of the significant underlying causes of knife related violence.

"Operation Sceptre brings forces together and highlights that we will be united in doing everything possible to stop those intent on causing serious violence."

To tell Sussex Police about knife crime please report online or call 101.

Officers have said they will treat information in confidence and with sensitivity.

They added that in an emergency, one should always dial 999.

To report knife crime anonymously, go to https://www.fearless.org/en/give-info