Sceptre

Dear Residents

Knife crime week of action returns
 

We are committed to reducing knife crime and serious youth violence across the region.  This is a top priority for the force, and we are taking proactive steps to address this critical issue and protect those most at risk of harm.  

We have made significant progress in understanding the issues and data that lead to a knife being carried or used across the West Midlands. Through Project Guardian, we have teams that are dedicated to taking weapons off the streets, identifying those at risk and criminal activity that relates to knife crime. Our patrols are specific, putting officers in places where knife crime is predicted, at the times it is most likely to happen.

Operation Sceptre returns - a focused week of action to raise awareness of knife crime, bring violent offenders to justice, and work with our local partners to make public spaces safer for all.  

Every local policing area has dedicated school’s intervention and prevention officers who work with schools and partners to support young people and offer guidance and advice around keeping safe and diverting away from dangerous or criminal activities. They will be delivering anti-knife crime sessions and working with our Safer Travel teams to intervene on transport networks. 

Throughout the week, our officers will be completing weapon sweeps in your local parks, testing the law and sale of knives with retailers, attending community events, and conducting knife arch operations. We have both uniformed officers and plain clothes officers working with specialist teams to help reduce knife crime and violence. 

You may spot our new knife crime car out and about that will be used to educate young people across the region. The vehicle has vital messaging on it, including the #LifeOrKnife slogan, an image of the national Knife Angel statue, and the slogan “Drop the knife, save a life”.

The car will be used across the West Midlands, visiting schools, colleges and youth events to raise awareness about the dangers of knife crime and to connect young people with vital support and opportunities. 

If you spot the car, grab a photo and tag #SteerAwayFromKnifeCrime to help us spread the word. 

We also want to encourage people to dispose of their weapons and knives safely. This year we welcomed three new weapon surrender bins in Wolverhampton and Coventry. These new bins allow those carrying ninja swords and larger weapon to dispose of them anonymously and discreetly. 
 

You can find you local weapon surrender bin here: Weapon Surrender Bins - West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner

If you know someone who is carrying a knife, call us on 999. If you have information about knife crime or threats of violence, you can call us on 101 or report to us online via our website. If you want to give information anonymously, call Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.

To learn more about the laws around knife crime, and the devastating impact carrying a knife can have, head to our Life or Knife website: Home - Life Or Knife - The choice is yours (west-midlands.police.uk)