Knife amnesty is a success

The knife amnesty, supported by Devon and Cornwall Police and other UK forces, as part of Operation Sceptre, is now concluded. It ran from 17 – 23 July in Devon and Cornwall (19 – 26 July in Plymouth).

Outside the periods of these amnesties, unwanted bladed items should be safely transported to the metal reclamation section of your local recycling centre.

Activities in addition to secure collection bins at police enquiry offices included police officers and PCSOs visiting secondary schools and youth clubs in Plymouth to talk about knife crime and, in the Exeter, East and Mid Devon area, metal detecting wands used at various licensed premises over two weekends.

Inspector Mark Waldron reports that the week of the knife amnesty in South Devon has been successful.

He said: “We had 96 knives handed in which included Samurai swords, butterfly knives and flick knives. There were also sheath knives, kitchen knives and pocket knives, and all of these have now been taken out of circulation during a successful week of action.”

“This is something that we will re-visit periodically.”

Collection bins were available at Torquay, Totnes, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot police stations. Weapon sweeps were carried out in two key locations in each sector of the area, according to local intelligence, twice daily during the period of the amnesty. Stop checks were carried out and the opportunity was taken whilst out in the community to educate about knife crime and about the amnesty, especially with young people.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams concentrated on a message of stamping out knife crime during planned visits to schools and when engaging with visiting international students.

The North Devon policing team reported that the amnesty had been a success with 140 knives handed in to Barnstaple front office.

Neighbourhood officers and the Professional Development Unit (PDU) assisted with two plain clothes days, involving stop searches, during which a sword (picture attached) was seized out of concern for the welfare of the owner.

In Plymouth 92 bladed items were handed in at Crownhill and Charles Cross police stations in Plymouth, and again this included Samurai swords. One gentleman handed in his old scout knives which were considerably larger (and non-folding) than would by any stretch of the imagination be either legal or desirable to carry today.

The detecting wands used at licensed premises over two weekends picked up only two tools which were being carried in error but legitimately, nonetheless police will remain vigilant. Results are not yet in for Cornwall.

This is what AskNED, our non-emergency directory, has to say about what you should do if you know someone is carrying a knife: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact/ask-ned/question/8607135c-0...