Latest news with #OperationSceptre
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Zombie knives among weapons gathered by Northumbria Police
Hundreds of knives and other weapons, including Samurai swords, machetes and a set of nunchakus, have been seized or handed in to police during a week of than 160 people in north-east England were also arrested by Northumbria Police as part of last month's Operation force said officers seized 34 knives, while in excess of 500 - including 17 zombie knives - were dropped off at its knives are officially defined as a blade more than 8in (20.32cm) in length with a sharp point and a plain cutting edge, plus either a serrated edge, more than one hole in the blade, spikes, or more than two sharp points. Knife arches were used to detect weapons in busy areas such as transport hubs, while more than 1,000 children were given talks at schools. 'Devastating' consequences Supt Scott Cowie described the total number of knives and weapons taken off the streets as "sizeable".He appealed for people to "continue to be our eyes and ears and report any suspected criminality".He added: "Together, we can prevent further knife crime incidents and ensure our region remains among the safest to live in the country." Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, warned: "Whether it's through fear, pressure or a false sense of protection, the choice to carry a knife can lead to devastating and irreversible consequences, not just for those involved but for family, friends, and entire communities."We all have a role to play, whether that's as parents, friends, teachers, youth workers, or police officers."That means starting early conversations, listening and offering support when it matters most." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested after police found two lock knives in his car
A man has been arrested by Eden Police for possession of a knife in a public place. Eden Police found two lock knives upon stopping and searching a vehicle and its occupant. This was found as part of Operation Sceptre which looked to reduce knife crime with a week of action. A spokesperson for Eden Police said: "Someone in possession of a knife is not only increasing the risk of harm to themselves, but could also face a fine of £5,000 and a four-year prison sentence." A man has been arrested for possession of a knife in a public place. Eden Police found two lock knives upon stopping and searching a vehicle and its occupant. This was found as part of Operation Sceptre which looked to reduce knife crime with a week of action. A spokesperson for Eden Police said: "Someone in possession of a knife is not only increasing the risk of harm to themselves, but could also face a fine of £5,000 and a four-year prison sentence."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Bristol's Knife attacks decrease thanks to 'giving people chance to speak'
Knife offences have dropped across Avon and Somerset Police's area thanks to a new way of working that gives people a chance to speak, the force show knife crime has decreased, with public order offences involving a knife down by 35% from 188 incidents between January to March in 2024, to 121 for the same period this Insp Mike Vass said the figures are "encouraging" and the force, which covers Bristol, Bath, Taunton and Weston, is now conducting knife sweeps to continue tackling the said: "We've seen reductions in our knife crime - offending, possession offences, robbery offences and theft offences." "I think the biggest difference is the concentrated effort over the last couple of years in our partnership working - whether that's through our violence reduction partnerships, or through our other networks such as the bleed kit partnerships," he added."What they enable is prevention, education and just giving people a chance to speak to us." Murder involving a knife has also dropped from seven during the first three months of 2024, to one over the same period in robberies with a knife has plunged from 147 in 2024 to 116 this year. Officers are conducting weapon searches in Arnos Park, Bristol, this week as part of Operation Sceptre - a nationwide initiative held twice a year to raise awareness and tackle knife crimeAs part of the operation, knife surrender bins are being placed across the have so far seized more than 7,000 knives from 33 sites in the force raised from melting these knives are partially funding scenario-based classes run by charity Lifeskills. This scheme has taught thousands of school children about the dangers of knives. Community surrender bins have been placed in the following locations:Stars Lane, Yeovil, Queensway Retail Park, Worle, Armadillo Youth Centre, Yate, Fore Street, Taunton, Lifeskills, Bristol and Growing Futures, St Paul's.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Hartlepool arrests as police raid homes linked to knife crime
Four people have been arrested for drug offences and weapons were seized in early morning police raids.A samurai sword, machete and a club with nails were found in a home on Duke Street in Hartlepool earlier, after Cleveland Police suspected drug dealing was taking place there. Two men, aged 24 and 46, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs, while a 28-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs following the raids aimed at tackling knife crime. Police said all those arrested as part of the raid remained in police custody. The force conducted the raid after it received reports of young people walking around the streets with knives and weapons, it comes as Cleveland Police reported it had the third highest rate of knife crime in the Ch Insp Stuart Hodgson said: "Knives cause misery and fear in our communities and this is about locating and locking up those who threaten and hurt people.'' Cleveland Police said over the last year there had been 880 violent incidents where a knife had been used, or someone had been threatened with a well as the raids, plain clothes officers patrolled "crime hotspots" looking to catch people carrying knives and talks took place in local schools as part of the national week of said they were now seeing more young people carrying knives and recently seized one from an Sceptre, the nationwide initiative to tackle knife crime across the UK, focuses on education and engagement activity, with enhanced enforcement over the week. Cleveland Police's Acting Insp Sarah Beadle, who is leading on the week of action, said: "It is particularly concerning to see young people involved and hurt in these crimes, but we will do all we can to engage, educate and encourage them not to carry a knife. "It isn't normal behaviour, very few young people do carry a knife, but with numbers rising on Teesside we want to ensure that there is help and guidance for anyone who needs it." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
'More to be done' after spate of stabbings in Derby
Derbyshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) has suggested work to tackle knife crime needs to focus on adults as well as young people following four stabbing incidents in Derby over a 12-day Johal was fatally stabbed at Lloyds Bank in the city centre on 6 May before a man in his 30s suffered stab wounds to his arm at a house in Crewton Way in Alvaston on 15 following day two men were stabbed during a fight between two groups in Middleton Street, Normanton, before another stabbing in Mercian Way on Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said she felt preventative work needed to be targeted at a range of age groups. Her comments come during national Knife Crime Awareness Week and the launch of Operation Sceptre - a co-ordinated week of action by police forces across England and Wales to tackle knife-related called the spate of knife incidents in the city a "deeply troubling period for local communities"."These are not just statistics — these are lives forever changed. Behind every headline is a person, a family, a community left in pain," she said."Too often, we focus on young people — and while that is important, it's not the whole picture. "Some of those involved in knife crime are now adults who grew up in environments where carrying a knife was normalised. We have to reach them too." The PCC said significant work has already gone into prevention — particularly education among young people - but the issue was "not confined to youth alone".She added there needed to be a "change in attitudes" to get to the "root causes" - such as poverty, mental health, addiction and organised as well as enforcement, collaboration with different organisations like schools and the NHS could office said Derbyshire had seen a 10.9% reduction in knife crime in the past year. Work 'not done' Derbyshire has received funding from the Home Office to support its Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and wider prevention work. In 2025-26, the PCC was awarded an additional £641,000 to expand these initiatives further."This funding is critical... It's helping us tackle knife crime from every possible angle — through education, community support, policing, and prevention," said Ndiweni-Roberts."But until people feel truly safe in their communities, our work is not done."Haybe Cabdiraxmaan Nur, 47, of Western Road, Derby, has been charged with the murder of Gurvinder Johal, 37. He is due to provisionally stand trial in the new year.A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the incident in Meridian Way.
