Greater Manchester: Operation Sceptre knife crime campaign

Operation Sceptre takes place twice a year, co-ordinated by the National Police Chief’s Council and is running until Sunday, May 22.

During the operation the community have been asked to dispose of any knives or any bladed articles that could be used as a weapon in one of the forever amnesty bins which are permanently located around Greater Manchester.

The operation aims to also highlight the police action in detecting, reducing and preventing it.

Throughout the week of action, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will be co-ordinating additional policing activity and working closely with partners including the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, local authorities, public health, youth workers and charities to protect communities and young people from the threat of knife crime.

Some of the increased police activity will include:

• Additional high visibility patrols, particularly in hotspot locations and targeting repeat offenders.
• Promoting the Forever Amnesty bins that are located around the force for people to deposit knives and other bladed weapons safely and anonymously.
• Additional focus on keeping people safe on nights out and in town centres.
• Working with partners to raise awareness of Challenge 25 where people can buy knives.

• Working with schools, colleges, and youth groups to educate young people on the dangers of carrying knives.
• Conducting weapons sweeps for hidden or discarded knives.
• Staffing knife arches at Metrolink stops and other locations in order to detect and deter people from carrying knives.

The operation also supports the wider work of the GM Violence Reduction Unit in raising awareness of the dangers of knife crime and educating young people – both of which are key to prevention.

Superintendent Caroline Hemingway, GMP’s force lead for serious violence and knife crime, said: “Operation Sceptre is an opportunity to highlight the dangers of knife crime and show how enforcement helps keep the public safe.

“While our officers are doing vital work, we know that much more needs to be done to ensure that people feel safe and GMP will continue to step up its policing response.

“In December 2022, GMP set up Operation Venture, which is a dedicated team of officers who are ring-fenced to tackle knife crime and serious violence.

“This team has already seen great results with over 141 arrests made and 47 weapons seized in just four months.

“The team are continually building an intelligence picture around knife crime hotspots and will continue to target offenders and protect communities across Greater Manchester.

“Our officers also act on intelligence and often the most important information we receive is given to us by members of the public and I would anyone with information to share it so we can act upon it.

“Sadly, some people think it’s normal to carry a knife and we need communities to pull together and challenge that behaviour.”

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Source – Theboltonnews