Cleveland Police to support national operation preventing knife-crime across Teesside

Operation Sceptre is aimed at keeping knives off our streets by targeting individuals who carry a blade.

It will also educate young people about the dangers and devastating consequences as well as a particular focus on knife-point robbery. 

The initiative starts today, Monday 11 November, and will run to Sunday 17 November.

In the last 12 months – October 2023 to October 2024 – a knife has been involved in the killing of six people in Teesside. While 503 reports of violence with injury involved a blade during the same time period. 

The force remains determined to reduce the number of blades carried across Teesside with efforts in tackling knife crime being intensified through enforcement and engagement initiatives being held during the week of action.

A huge focus of the week will be to visit schools and colleges. This is to engage and educate young people and warn them of the huge risk and harm that comes with carrying a blade. This follows 154 offences involving individuals aged 14 to 24 who were victims of a crime that involved a blade.

There will also be knife surrender bins placed at each of the four main police stations in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland, for members of the community to voluntarily give up any unwanted knives or bladed articles.

Detective Inspector Sarah Beadle, Cleveland Police’s operational lead for Operation Sceptre, said: “Evidence is clear that a child who carries a knife is more likely to become a victim, whether that’s being seriously injured, or worse lose their life. If they themselves use the knife the reality is they will get caught and then face a substantial amount of time in prison.

“Over the course of this week, we will be out in the community and working with our partners, including local authorities, licensing, trading standards and youth representatives as we continue to prevent and deter people from choosing to pick up a blade.

“This will further contribute to reducing knife-crime related violence among young people in our community and make Teesside an even safer place for young people to live and work both now and in the future.”

To report any type of crime involving weapons, call Cleveland Police on 101, via the website or 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting their website

For information on Cleveland Police’s own anti-knife crime campaign ‘Carrying a Blade Doesn’t Give You an Edge’ please visit our website