Knives taken from the street and carriers sent to prison - Op Sceptre

Stockton Proactive Team have been carrying out patrols as part of Op Sceptre, the nationwide initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK in an intensified week of action.

On Wednesday 15 May, the team stopped a man known to them who they suspected may be carrying a weapon. He was stopped and searched by the officers, who found that he was carrying a knife.

Further enquiries found that the man was also wanted on warrant for an unrelated offence. The man was arrested for carrying a bladed article, taken to police custody and charged to court the following morning.

The following day, Thursday 16 May, the team were again on intelligence-led patrols when they again stopped a man known to them, suspected to be carrying a weapon. He was stopped and searched, resulting in officers finding class B and C drugs and a knife.

The man was also wanted on prison recall, so was arrested on suspicion of possession of class B and C drugs and possession of a bladed article, before being returned to prison.

Sgt Williamson “This is another example of officers using local knowledge to target those who cause harm to our communities. We will continue to disrupt these individuals and their criminal activities as much as we possibly can.

“This shows the benefit of targeting the right people, in the right areas, at the right time. Utilising data and intelligence analysis, we can deploy officers into the areas identified as affected by high crime and harm.

“By relentlessly targeting these individuals we prevent crime, reduce demand across other departments allowing officers to attend other incidents and make our communities safer. If you are found in possession of a knife, you will be charged to court.”