Operation Sceptre - Foleshill Road

Operation Sceptre - Foleshill Road

Today 20/05/26, your Foleshill neighbourhood officers have conducted visits to multiple stores along Foleshill Road as part of Operation Sceptre, a knife crime and youth violence prevention initiative.

The purpose of the engagement was to ensure locations as to where knives or sharply pointed articles are being sold are adhering to displaying the correct knife policies in store and provide the retailers with leaflets containing useful advice to distribute to customers surrounding knife crime.

The law on knives in the UK

It is illegal to carry a knife with any size blade if it is used or intended for use as a weapon. It is also illegal to carry a knife in a public place, if the blade is longer than three inches; unless it is used for a trade. It is against the law to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18. If the police catch you with a knife in a public place, you will have to prove you were carrying it for a good reason.

Signs you might want to talk to your child about knife crime

If they have become withdrawn from the family and school, changed their behaviour, achievement or school attendance.

If they might have lost interest in hobbies and old friends and now hang around with a new group, staying out late and being vague about where they go.

If they have become secretive and defensive, particularly about what’s in their bag and might even told you that they need to carry a knife.

If you’ve noticed knives are missing from the house or may even have found one in your child’s bag or coat.

These things seem easily explained as part of the difficult teenage years, but it’s still important to talk to them about knife crime.

How to have the chat

Pick a place and a time where you can comfortably chat together. Your child might be reluctant to talk to you, so it might help to start by watching a relevant video or news article.

Ask them if they understand what knife crime is about. Be patient, get them talking, reassure them that they can be honest with you about their fears and worries. You are there to listen and support them.

What you might want to say

You might want to share your own fears about their safety and their future. Tell them that even when they feel they don’t have choices, they do.

You might have a story from your own childhood you can share about a time you felt pressured into acting a certain way or a recent news story you could reference.

Explain that the bravest thing to do is walk away from a fight, particularly one where someone has a knife. That while walking away is never easy, it’s easier than getting seriously hurt or being responsible for killing or injuring someone else.

You might want to discuss excuses your child could use to help them walk away, such as 'I have to go and pick my little brother up,' - or decide on a ‘code’ where the child can message you asking you to call them so that they can use your call as an excuse to walk away.

Reassure them by saying many young people don’t carry knives.

We will be conducting further work in the near future in regards to Operation Sceptre.

If you have any concerns or questions, especially in relation to the safeguarding of young people, please contact us at 999 in an emergency, 101 for non emergency enquiries and consider visiting our website to learn more about West Midlands Police Home | West Midlands Police

Crime stoppers are contactable via 0800 555 111 24/7

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Message Sent By
Michael Cox 25130
(West Midlands Police - Coventry, PC, Coventry - Foleshill)