Police forces across the country are this week carrying out Operation Sceptre, against tackle knife crime and wider violence. In London, the Met Police says it will increase its operational activity throughout the week, as well as provide a focus on education, diversion and prevention.
Officers will be carrying out weapons sweeps and patrols in violence hotspots, and targeting high harm offenders wanted for knife crime offences. Officers will also work alongside the British Transport Police (BTP) to deploy knife arches and drug detection dogs, around transport hubs. Police report a clear link between drugs and a high proportion of the violence on the streets of London. Hence the City of London Police are using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to target individuals using the roads to peddle drugs and, in the process, exploiting vulnerable young people.
Alongside enforcement, officers will be talking with young people in schools and other youth premises, offering details of available support services, diversionary options and valuable information to highlight the life-changing consequences of carrying a knife. Businesses will be approached in efforts to educate and ensure they are not selling knives irresponsibly to young people.
Londoners are also being encouraged to hand in knives at 12 nominated police stations. Another option for depositing knives are the ‘Words for Weapons’ knife bins, the locations of which can be found here. Earlier this month the Metropolitan Police with five mothers who lost their sons to violence and knife crime opened a campaign ‘Hard Calls Save Lives’, urging urge Londoners to call the free and anonymous 0800 reporting line Crimestoppers with information about knife crime.
Commander Alex Murray, the Met’s Violence Lead, said: “Throughout the past year, which has seen unprecedented challenges for Londoners and the police, our priority continued to be targeting violent crime and its drivers. Now lockdown restrictions are easing, it is vital that we maintain this focus and drive.
“This operation is an intensification of the work officers are already doing on a daily basis to tackle knife crime and remove dangerous weapons from the streets, and last year we saw a 26pc reduction in violent crime across London. We are absolutely determined to keep violence levels down as we approach the summer months.
“The impact of knife crime on families and communities in London is devastating, which is why we are also asking for communities to work with us or give information about knife crime, or anything they may know about violence in their area, to Crimestoppers – your anonymity is guaranteed. It might feel like a hard call, but it could save the life of someone’s son or daughter.”
And the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) 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.”
Meanwhile in Wiltshire, Swindon Supt Phil Staynings said Wiltshire continues to be a very safe county and the vast majority of people there will not be impacted by knife crime.
“However, we do not want to become complacent and we do continue to see a worrying trend amongst some young people, particularly in parts of Swindon, who seem to believe that they need to carry a knife for protection.” This is often linked to other forms of criminality, such as ‘County Lines’ drug dealing, he added. More on the Wiltshire Police website.
