Constabulary intensifying efforts regarding the sale of knives during week-long operation

Cheshire Police is running is week-long operation focusing on the sale of illegal blades as part of ongoing work to keep knives off our streets.

As part of the National Police Chief Council's Sceptre operation, a national campaign aiming to reduce the impact of knife crime in our communities, Cheshire Police will be deploying a number of initiatives across the county.

For this rollout of Sceptre, which will be running from Monday 17 November to Sunday 23 November, officers will be focusing on educating members of the public relating to the dangers of knife crime and retailers on the correct laws and regulations that prevent blades falling into the wrong hands.

There will be a number of opportunities to safely dispose of any knives, bladed weapons and knuckle dusters into designated surrender points across the seven Local Policing Unit (LPU) areas.

Other activities during the operation will include test purchase operations, community knife sweeps, engagement in the community, as well as an increased visible policing presence to provide reassurance.

Superintendent Cath Jones, Cheshire Constabulary Knife Crime Lead, said:

“There have been several high-profile knife crime-related incidents in the north west in recent memory and it, quite rightfully, remains such a pertinent issue within society today.

“With that in mind, Sceptre, which is an operation the Constabulary has routinely supported twice annually for a number of years, is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight the outstanding level of work that goes in from officers and staff across the force in keeping Cheshire weapons free.

“It is their efforts that help keep the levels of both knife crime and aggravated street robbery and violent crimes, that often do involve weapons, comparatively low when compared to our fellow forces across England and Wales.

“In May’s Sceptre deployment, 205 blades were surrendered to the force through operational knife sweeps in our town centres and communities, proactive stop-search deployments and knife arches and, most importantly through the efforts of the general public depositing unwanted blades in amnesty bins located across Cheshire.

“Also, during this deployment of, officers focused their attention on engaging with the county’s retailers who play a crucial role in ensuring these potentially dangerous and lethal weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.

“We will be further intensifying these efforts during this week of action through test purchasing activities at retailers of all sizes across Cheshire, ensuring those who are tasked with the responsibility of selling knives are fully aware of who they can and, more importantly, cannot be selling them to.

“When it comes to issues as serious as knife crime, it is so important that everyone feels that they can come forward to us with any issues, so we can take swift and immediate action.

“We will also be working with our partner organisations, including local authorities, charities, third-sector organisations, youth representatives and community groups as we continue to keep Cheshire a hostile environment for anyone who chooses to pick up a blade.”