Reassurance for nights out as safety tool rolled out further

Revellers in Derbyshire are being reassured of their safety on nights out as an effective detector tool is being rolled out further.

Operation Sceptre, a national week of intensification to highlight the year-round work to tackle knife crime, begins today (14 November 2022), and to kick-start the week we're highlighting some important partnership work that is currently being widened out from the north of the county.

‘Knife wands’ are a hand-held metal detector which security staff can use when searching anyone coming into pubs, bars and clubs, and help deter the small number of people who do choose to carry a knife.

The Derbyshire Constabulary licensing team, alongside local partnership groups, have been working hard to help distribute these across a number of areas and embed these into security plans for venues.

The tool has been embraced by a wide number of premises in the High Peak, where work has been ongoing with the community and partners to embed these. Now, thanks to the positive reception, these are being rolled out wider to the Derbyshire Dales.

PC Lora Holdgate, one of Derbyshire Constabulary’s Licensing Officers, said: “Thankfully, the vast majority of people in Derbyshire don’t carry knives or weapons, but it can have absolutely devastating consequences when that small minority do.  

“These knife wands can be used by door staff in venues to aid them when completing enhanced searches of customers prior to entry, the idea being that they can detect whether someone may be in possession of a knife, a metal weapon, or a bladed article before they even enter a premises. 

“Part of my job role as a Licensing Officer is to support venues in running safe and responsible businesses. The idea came about as licensees in a PubWatch meeting raised concerns, so on the back of that the knife wands were purchased as an additional tool to support venues who have security staff in tackling knife crime, particularly linked in with the night time economy. 

“The High Peak Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Community Safety Partnership have funded and distributed the device over the last 12 months to licensed premises within the High Peak area, and it’s all premises that have door staff security. 

‘I’ve then replicated that this year with the Community Safety Partnership in the Derbyshire Dales and we’re in the process of rolling them out to Matlock, Ashbourne and any other areas who might need them. 

“Throughout the High Peak, there’s a number of PubWatch groups, the licensees do work really well together, there’s new venues regularly joining the PubWatch group, so their participation has meant that we can distribute the knife wands further to locally licensed sports premises. 

“Speaking to them, they’re very positive about the use of them and feel it helps them run the venues safely and it gives the customers reassurance.”

One of those premises fully behind the idea is Level 2, a night club in Buxton. Owners and security staff are very well versed in using the tool, having used them for some time.

Pete Watmough, owner and manager of Level 2, said: “Going to town centres and other venues and seeing them in use, I thought, ‘you know, we need them at Level 2’.

“It was just really thinking it would give customers and staff peace of mind when staff are working and customers are on a night out, preventing anyone thinking they can bring anything illicit into the club.”

Since having the knife wand, Pete says there have been very few findings or issues in the club, and believes it is a great preventative tool.

“As a deterrent, I’d say it must be working. We’ve not had a problem and, you see in the media around the country there is a problem in the country up and down, but we’ve not seen anything here thankfully.

“Now to see the wands being distributed around other venues in town, you know, it’s becoming more normal and it’s nice to see it’s not just us taking the action and being proactive, so it’s great.”

These devices can already be seen in most premises with door staff across the High Peak, and premises in Matlock and Ashbourne are currently seeing these arriving, followed by premises in the wider Derbyshire Dales.

Door-staffed venues who haven’t received on of these can get in touch with their local licensing team, who will be able to advise and assist with the request.

#OpSceptre #KnivesShatterLives #DropTheKnife

If you are aware of anyone who carries a knife or have concerns that someone you know may carry a knife, please report it us.

• Facebook – send us a private message to this page
• Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact
• Website – complete the online contact form derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.
• Phone – call us on 101.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

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