Dear Resident

Hertfordshire to take part in national knife crime campaign

We will conduct a week of action to combat knife crime between Monday 19 and Sunday 25 May as part of  Op Sceptre, a national knife crime initiative.

Knife related crime remains low in Hertfordshire, compared to other parts of the country, but the campaign aims to raise awareness that carrying a knife is illegal and will not help to keep you safe.

As part of the initiative we will be carrying out activities aimed at reducing knife crime, including conducting knife detection operations and talking to retailers to ensure knives are not sold to those under 18 years of age. The campaign will also include messages and advice to educate young people, via school visits and social media, about the dangers of carrying a knife.

During the campaign, any knives in your possession that you do not want or should not have, can be surrendered at one of the following police stations: Hatfield, Stevenage or Watford. There will also be temporary knife bins in locations around the county and there are permanent surrender bins in Waltham Cross, details of which can be found here: www.herts.police.uk/amnesty.

Items can be surrendered anonymously during the amnesty in the knife bins provided, including recently banned zombie knives and machetes. The locations and opening times of the police stations can be found here: www.herts.police.uk/stations.

A survey will also be running to gauge residents’ concerns about knife crime and thoughts on how police are tackling the issue in Hertfordshire. Add your thoughts to the knife crime survey:

Please click here to complete the survey

Sergeant Karen Mellor, who is leading on the operational activity for Sceptre, said: “Knife crime remains low in the county, but we regularly run these weeks of action, along with our policing partners across the country as part of a continuing effort to drive down knife crime.

“As part of our Serious Violence Strategy we aim to raise awareness of knife crime amongst young people, to ensure that they do not become involved in this type of crime at an early age. We also target knife carriers, using stop and search and other powers, to ensure they are not posing a threat to our communities.

“We will also be focussing on those selling illegal knives online and through social media sites as this is where the majority of the recently banned zombie knives are acquired.”

If you are concerned or have information about someone carrying knives or are aware of anyone involved in knife crime you can report this by:

Report crime by:

• Filling out our online reporting form at https://orlo.uk/WfsR5

• Speaking to an operator in our Force Communications Room via online webchat at https://orlo.uk/F31Ig

• Calling our non-emergency telephone number 101 (in an emergency, always dial 999).

• Contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

If you would like further information on support services relating to knife crime contact Fearless.org.

As always, thank you for reading. 

Kind regards

James