FOI 422774

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 422774

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 18^th July 2025. Please find below the response to your request:

How many weapons were seized/recovered from: a) stop and searches, b) searches requiring a warrant, c) imports from customs, d) amnesties, and e) weapon sweeps during the most recent Operation Sceptre campaign, held 19-25 May?

Reply

West Mercia Police do not hold the full information requested

Please note: The national return only required total numbers of knives / weapons for the following fields, Stop and search, Direct arrest, and searches including warrants and section 18s linked to knife crime. It did not require total numbers from sweeps or amnesties.

How many weapons were seized/recovered from:

1. a) stop and searches, = 0
2. b) searches requiring a warrant, = 0
3. c) imports from customs, = 0
4. d) amnesties, 111 (This is data from only 2 of the 5 LPAs as it was not required to record totals this year therefore this is likely to be higher but not recorded.)
5. e) weapon sweeps = 4 weapons identified, 1 saw, 2 golf clubs and a metal pole, no knives.

This was during the most recent Operation Sceptre campaign, held 19-25 May?

In addition to the above there was one knife seized from a direct arrest.

There were also 19 knives seized and 1 knife found during the period between 19/05/2025 and 25/05/2025 however none of these items were marked as Op Spectre.