Wiltshire Police’s involvement in Operation Sceptre, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating knife crime, has yielded promising results as more than 400 knives were handed in across the county.
Running from May 15th to May 27th, the public took advantage of 12 knife surrender bins strategically placed throughout Wiltshire, resulting in the surrender of 439 knives and bladed articles, with 173 being handed in specifically in Swindon.
In addition to the knife surrender campaign, Wiltshire Police officers carried out various activities to address the root causes of knife crime and enforce the law. Their efforts included school visits with interactive presentations to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives, community engagement events, weapons sweeps, the deployment of knife arches in schools, and proactive patrols in areas prone to gang violence.
During a presentation at Swindon College, Insp David Tippetts utilised the interactive engagement package ‘A Different View,’ developed by the Metropolitan Police. This tool allowed participants to experience a stop-and-search scenario from a police officer’s perspective, fostering a better understanding of the decisions made and the thinking process involved.
Insp David Tippetts expressed satisfaction with the public’s response to the initiative, stating, “It has been a positive two weeks of action across Wiltshire, and I’m pleased with the number of knives that have been handed in.
“It demonstrates that the public is aware of the dangers of knife crime and are determined to proactively reduce the likelihood of violent incidents.”
Recognising that addressing knife crime requires collaborative efforts, Insp Tippetts emphasised the importance of partnerships with various organisations to tackle the root causes of the issue and support young people in making informed choices.
“It’s been really positive to see all the different examples where we are working in collaboration with partner organisations to address some of the root causes and support young people in making informed choices,” he said.
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson commended Operation Sceptre for its comprehensive approach to tackling knife crime. He highlighted the proactive work undertaken by Wiltshire Police, which resulted in numerous weapons being surrendered.
“Each knife taken off the streets is a step towards making the streets of Wiltshire safer.
“We have engaged with local schools, community groups and charities to educate our young people and challenge the misconception that carrying a knife or weapon makes people seem big or clever by demonstrating that the consequences are serious and too often fatal.
“Maintaining visibility of officers in areas where there are concerns around knife crime remains a priority for the Chief Constable as part of creating safer public spaces and my priority of reducing violence and serious harm.”
