Week of action to highlight work on knife crime

The work done by Derbyshire Constabulary year-round to tackle knife crime is set to be highlighted during a national week of intensification.

Sceptre, run by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), is a twice-yearly opportunity to showcase what we are doing to educate people on knife crime and keep weapons off the streets.

Over the course of the week, you’ll be seeing officers all over the county taking part in a range of activities to do just this.

Officers will be delivering inputs and assemblies in school to both late-primary and secondary students, as well as hosting pop-up stalls in colleges across the county.

There will also be knife sweeps conducted, where officers scan parks and recreational spaces for weapons, sometimes with the help of a metal detectors.

As well as this, our Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be around hosting a number of events in your local communities, where you can speak to them and find out more.  Amnesty bins, a key feature of Sceptre, will also be placed at locations across the county to allow people to hand in their unwanted knives.

Not only will officers be working in a visible way, but they will continue to work behind the scenes, too, in order to gather intelligence and target offenders, as well as prevent incidents from happening.

Superintendent Ranjit Dol, the force lead for knife crime, said: “Our local teams are continuously working with people in their communities to educate people on knife crime and also to gather information and prevent it before anything happens.

“During the week of Sceptre, it is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to see what our teams are doing. 

“Knife crime has a devastating impact, not only the victims and perpetrators directly involved, but also for families. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, loved ones and family friends all feel the ripple effects and we will never become complacent when it comes to our work in preventing this.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts added: “One knife crime incident, one victim of knife crime, is one too many.  I think it is important that people see just how hard the police, our dedicated Violence Reduction Unit and our partners are working to reduce knife crime and violence.  Operation Sceptre provides that opportunity and the results of this week of action will give confidence to many that action is being taken.

“It’s clear to me that we must tackle the root causes of serious violence. We must educate and intervene as early as possible to deter more young people from being sucked into a cycle of crime.  That’s why I am keen to engage with, to listen to and learn from more young people so that we can use their views and experiences to effectively reduce knife crime and serious violence.  If we work together, we can achieve so much more.”

If you have any information or would like to make a report relating to knife crime, call 101.

In an emergency, call 999.

You can also report anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or through their partners at Fearless Give information about crime 100% anonymously | Fearless | Crimestoppers

You can also report to us online at: Report a crime | Derbyshire Constabulary

 

Amnesty bin locations

We aim to provide exact times and locations in advance, but where this has not been possible, please refer to the local teams' social media accounts for updates closer to the time.

Monday 11 November

Sunnydale Park, Littleover (Derby) - from 2pm
New Mills, High Peak - 2-3pm
Glossop, High Peak - 4pm
Heanor, Amber Valley - 5-6.30pm

Tuesday 12 November

Wirksworth Market, Wirksworth (Derbyshire Dales) - 9am-12pm
Normanton Park, Derby - from 3pm
Somercotes, Alfreton (Amber Valley) - 5-6.30pm

Wednesday 13 November

Dronfield Civic Centre, Dronfield - from 8.30am
Alvaston shops / Tesco, Alvaston (Derby) - 12-2pm
Hope Car Park, Hope Valley (High Peak) - 12-3pm
Whistlestop Cafe, Matlock Bath (Derbyshire Dales) - 2-3pm
Arboretum Park, Derby - from 3pm
Belper - 5-6.30pm 
Crown Square, Matlock (Derbyshire Dales)
Kedleston Road shops, Derby
Chapel-en-le-frith Morrison's (High Peak) 

Thursday 14 November

Dronfield Civic Centre, Dronfield - from 10am
Ashbourne Marketplace - 10am-12pm
Cromford Mills - 11am-12pm
Sunnydale Park, Littleover - from 3pm
Aldi, Glossop (High Peak) - 3-4pm
Ripley, Amber Valley - 5-6.30pm
Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre, Derby

Friday 15 November

Granby Road, Bakewell - 10am-12pm
Sinfin District Centre, Derby - 2-4pm
Hurst Farm Social Club, Matlock - 3-4pm
South Normanton - 5pm-6.30pm
Aldi, Buxton (High Peak)

Saturday 16 November

Hathersage, High Peak - 10am-12pm
Peak Dale social club, Buxton (High Peak) - 12-3pm
Alfreton, Amber Valley - from 3.30pm
Tansley Park, Tansley - 3-4pm
Tesco, Clay Cross
Co-operative, North Wingfield
Heath Road, Holmewood 

Sunday

Infinity Parkway, Derby - 2.30pm