National Week to Tackle Knife Crime Starts Today

Operation Sceptre, the nationwide initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK in an intensified week of action, begins today 13 November. 

Throughout the week of action, forces will coordinate activity to target knife crime from the root cause right through to enforcement.

Cleveland Police is already running the ‘Carrying a Blade Doesn’t Give You an Edge’ campaign which launched on Monday 9 October and is aimed at young people aged 11-24, to help them to spot the early signs of being encouraged to carry a knife.

The campaign runs mainly on social media, with digital advertising targeting young people in areas with higher recorded rates of violent crime. 

As part of the campaign, the force encourages teenagers to seek help if they feel they are being coerced into knife crime and to speak to someone they trust.

As always, Op Sceptre will focus on education and engagement activity, with enhanced enforcement over the week.  Carriers are encouraged to surrender weapons anonymously to any of our knife amnesty bins, which are located at our four main police stations - Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton and Hartlepool.

Acting Inspector Sarah Beadle, who is leading on the week of action said: ““Everyday police officers see first-hand the devastating effects of carrying bladed weapons.  It is particularly concerning to see young people involved and hurt in these crimes, but we will do all we can to engage, educate and encourage them not to carry a knife.  It isn’t normal behaviour, very few young people do carry a knife, but with numbers rising on Teesside we want to ensure that there is help and guidance for anyone who needs it. 

“The enforcement side of tackling knife crime continues, with Operation Deterrence patrols in high harm areas for violent crime.  This way we can ensure that we have officers in the right place at the right time to stop people carrying knives.”

Please visit Carrying a blade doesn't give you an edge | Cleveland Police for more information on our campaign.