Wiltshire: Surrendered knives on display as campaign closes

Police have been engaging with young people to dispel myths around knives

More than 400 knives surrendered in Wiltshire have been displayed by police as an awareness campaign closes.

Operation Sceptre was a national initiative, across two weeks in May, to tackle knife crime from the root cause right through to enforcement.

It featured a knife surrender campaign to encourage the public, particularly young people, to hand in knives to surrender bins across the county.

Insp David Tippetts said: "Knife crime remains a complex issue."

"Each knife taken off the streets is a step towards making the streets of Wiltshire safer," he added.

Wiltshire Police have displayed all the knives collected over two weeks

Throughout the two week campaign, amnesty bins were available at 12 locations across the county, including Christ Church in Swindon, Amesbury Baptist Church, St James Church in Trowbridge and Warminster Civic Centre.

Those who handed in their weapons did not face being criminalised.

Insp David Tippetts described knife crime as "a complex issue"

"Op Sceptre showcases the many varied and impactful ways in which Wiltshire Police is working to reduce knife crime and tackle violence," added Det Tippetts.

"Whether it's engaging with local communities, working with young people to dispel myths around knives or carrying out test purchases with retailers."

More than 400 knives were handed in over the two-week period.

Those who handed in their weapons did not face being criminalised

Amnesty bins were available at 12 locations across the county

There were 315 crimes involving a knife in the county in 2022, up from 269 the year before, with most happening in Swindon, Wiltshire Police figures show.

Crimes include stabbings, carrying a knife in public and threatening someone with a bladed weapon.

The campaign has now come to a close

During two weeks of intensified action, officers visited schools and gave interactive presentations to young people on the risks of carrying knives.

They also conducted community engagement events, weapons sweeps, took knife arches to schools, and proactively patrolled in areas of high demand around gang violence.