Carrying a knife does NOT make you safer - Police support national knife crime campaign

Devon & Cornwall Police has been taking part in the national ‘Sceptre’ campaign, raising awareness around carrying a knife, knife related crime, and the police response to detecting and preventing it.

 Detective Inspector Kevin Morley of Devon & Cornwall Police, who co-ordinated the operation, said, “Whilst knife crime in Devon and Cornwall remains low, we support this national campaign whole-heartedly. Just one person carrying a knife is one too many, we continue to work with our partners throughout the year to keep knives out of the hands of young people.”

 The campaign, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), ran from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 November 2024; its part of the wider national strategy to remove dangerous weapons from the streets and keep communities safe.

During the week enhanced patrols, engagement events and educational talks were carried out, especially with young people, and throughout many areas in  Devon and Cornwall. Officers patrolled high streets and other public areas, attended pubs and clubs, and visited local schools with knife detecting arches to engage with young people and raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives, including that people are more at risk of being injured by a knife if they carry one.

Local policing teams also carried out weapon sweeps across the region; these involved checking public places where weapons may be hidden or discarded. Four search warrants were carried out during which seven were knives seized.

Local cadets also got involved in the safety campaign by carrying out test purchasing of the sale of knives to under 18s at eighteen retailers, most of which followed the guidelines for selling to young people.  Those that failed were given guidance in relation to their knife selling policies.

During the week, the total number of weapons seized across all activities was 26.

DI Morley added “We have had a successful week getting knives off the street, engaging with the public and raising awareness around knife carrying. 

“This work doesn’t just happen during weeks of activity though. We work tirelessly throughout the year to detect and prevent knife crime.  Last week we used a number of tactics to educate both the general public and knife retailers about owning and selling knives respectively.  Six arrests were made in relation to possession of a bladed weapon and nine knives were recovered.

“Some people think knife carrying will make them safer when the reality is that they are more likely to be injured with their own knife.  There have been a number of serious incidents involving knives recently, but these are infrequent.  This emphasises the importance of our on-going efforts to remove knives from our streets, as we recognise the catastrophic impact on families who have been victims of knife crime.

“It is important that people are aware of the law, especially in the light of the recent change in legislation making zombie knives illegal.  If anyone has concerns about someone they know who carries a knife, or about knife crime in their community, we encourage them to report it to us at dc.police.uk/tua.

“Devon and Cornwall remain among the safest places to live in the country. We will continue to use every available resource to combat knife crime and keep our neighbourhoods safe.”

Knife surrender bins are now permanently situated in local police stations across the region so that the public can surrender knives safely and discreetly. Information about where knife surrender bins can be found at: dc.police.uk/peo.

If you have any information or concerns about someone carrying a knife, please report it to Devon & Cornwall Police online via the website dc.police.uk/tua.

You can also report any information anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111. Your information could help save a life.

Retailers can visit this website for guidance on selling knives: www.nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance 

 Other useful websites:

Nottheone.co.uk – for information about knives and knife crime

 www.police.uk/streetsafe - to report a place where you don’t feel safe

 fearless.org – for young people to report someone anonymously.