Sceptre

West Mercia Police has joined with forces from across the country to be part of the national anti-knife crime intensification week, called Sceptre.

The week provides the opportunity to highlight the work done by teams throughout the year to tackle knife crime within our communities.

Head of Prevention for West Mercia Police, Superintendent Edward Hancox said: “We have seen the devastation and harm that knife crime has brought to our communities, and it is important we continue to do all we can to amplify the message around the dangers and consequences of carrying such a weapon”.

The focus this week is on those who sell knives and the responsibility they have on ensuring knives are only sold to individuals of legal age. It is an offence to sell a knife or bladed article to anyone aged under 18, and to be in possession of a knife or any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed, or other offensive weapon in public.

Superintendent Hancox continues: “It is incredibly important that we all play our part in tackling knife crime and those who sell them have a huge responsibility to make sure they are not getting into the hands of the wrong people”.

Other activity throughout the week will include teams attending engagement events within our communities to highlight the devastating effects of carrying a knife. This early intervention involves working alongside multiple agencies to offer support to young people on the periphery of offending or becoming involved in knife crime, and their families.

Superintendent Hancox says: “Early intervention and education are incredibly important, and we continue to champion the Steer Clear program which is an early intervention programme that supports young people aged between 10 and 17, living in all areas of the three counties we serve, who have been referred to the service due to information that they are or could be on the periphery of carrying knives”.

During the week members of the public are also being encouraged to drop off unwanted knives and blades in dedicated knife surrender bins to ensure they are disposed of safely and do not get into the wrong hands.

Locations of the bins are as follow:

Telford- Malinsgate Police Station, Telford, TF3 4HW

Kidderminster Police Station- Habberley Road, Kidderminster, DY11 6AN

Shrewsbury Police Station- Clive Road, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, SY2 5RW

Hereford Police Station- Bath Street, Hereford HR1 2HT

Worcester Police Station- Castle Street, Worcester, WR1 3QX

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “At the heart of my West Mercia Safer Communities Plan is a focus on tackling serious harm in our communities.

“The impact of knife crime in our communities is devastating, and while offences remain relatively low in West Mercia, even one life lost is one too many.

“That’s why it’s right that West Mercia Police continues to shine a light on its year-round focus to enforce the law, work with communities and educate them on the dangers of carrying a knife.”

You can find out more about Steer Clear here.

Report crime online here

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