Suffolk Police has begun a week of activity to tackle knife crime, target offenders who use and carry them and highlight the work that is done year-round to reduce these offences and keep our communities safe from knife crime.
Taking place between today, Monday 15, and Sunday 21 May, the national bi-annual week of intensified action – known as Operation Sceptre – will see officers carrying out a series of high visibility activity alongside partner agencies, raising awareness of knife crime and targeting those who carry knives and weapons.
Inspector Liz Casey said: “Activity will include promoting our amnesty bins where people can dispose of knives safely. These are located near most of our police stations across the county, and officers will also be conducting weapon sweeps, looking for knives discarded or hidden in public places.
“Officers in the engagement team will visit education premises, talking to young people about the dangers and effects of carrying knives and we will also be working with British Transport Police to disrupt criminals carrying weapons and using the train network to enter our county.
“We will visit our retail community and speak to them about their responsibility in the safe sale of knives to ensure they are not selling knives to anyone under the age of 18, and help them reduce opportunities for knives being stolen from their stores and their premises.
“Suffolk Constabulary is absolutely committed to keeping knives off our street and we need the ongoing support from the public. We need our communities to support the police in reporting and giving evidence about those who carry knives. If you know someone is carrying a knife, purchasing one or that someone being exploited to do so, please call us on 101, report it online or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
There is also information and advice available on the Suffolk police website to help families talk to young people about the dangers of carrying a knife, about County Lines culture and how to leave a gang.
For more information and advice regarding Having The Conversation see http://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/personal-safety/knife-crime/having-conversation
There are knife amnesty bins located near most police stations in the county. There are three in Ipswich (Princes Street outside the Fire Station, Queen’s Way and Bramford Road), at police stations in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Haverhill, and at the emergency services hub in Mildenhall and in Stowmarket at the junction of Stricklands Road and Ipswich Street.
Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I fully support the Operation Sceptre activities to combat knife crime across the county and raise awareness of the dangers of carrying a weapon.
“We all have a shared responsibility to stop young people using knives because they think it keeps them safe – it just does not. Sadly, as we have seen in the past, the consequences can be fatal so everything possible must be done to remove this threat from all communities in Suffolk.
“As PCC, I will continue to do all I can to support and help our youngsters to make the right choices in life and keep them away from this destructive and harmful behaviour.”