Derbyshire continues fight against knife crime after Op Sceptre success

Derbyshire Constabulary had a busy Operation Sceptre, a week dedicated to tackling and preventing knife crime, that took place between Monday 16 and Sunday 22 May.

Activities took place around the county, including amnesties, community meetings and enforcement operations.

Public engagement was a key focus, with anti-knife messaging at Derby County football ground and hard-hitting radio messages being broadcast on local stations.

A key success of the week was the 65 school engagement events, and the launch of a new knife crime board game.

This immersive game placed young people in different roles in a situation where a teenager was stabbed in a park. They then rolled the dice to decide what happens next and the consequences for all involved.

You can watch the trailer below.

Superintendent Sarah McAughtrie, the lead for knife crime at Derbyshire Constabulary, explained that this is just a small part of the ongoing effort to keep communities safe, “Operation Sceptre is an opportunity to spotlight the ongoing work done by our officers and staff year-round to prevent knife crime in Derbyshire.

“By working with partners and carrying out enforcement, when necessary, we can help to reduce the devastating effect that knife crime can have on families and communities.

“I am immensely proud of the wide range of engagement carried out by officers and staff during Operation Sceptre, by starting those difficult conversations and linking in with communities we can empower the public to come to us with any concerns regarding knife carrying.”

Safer Neighbourhood Teams also took the lead engaging communities, including surrender bins which lead to 292 knives being taken off the streets, over 30 pop up and community engagement events, and in Swadlincote where the local SNT painted anti-knife messages in local parks.

These are just some of the results from enforcement activity during the week, with arrests for knife crime related offences arrests in Derby, Chellaston and Ilkeston.

Partnership working with Trading Standards proved to be reassuring, with the majority of businesses refusing the sale of knives to under eighteen-year-olds.

The three businesses that failed the test purchase received education and follow up actions in response.

Although Operation Sceptre is now over, we are still committed to preventing knife crime within Derbyshire. If you have any information or concerns, please let us know:
Facebook – send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary
Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact
Website – complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.
Phone – call us on 101.

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org

You can also see all the social media activity throughout the country by searching #OpSceptre.