Crime | Posted on May 19th, 2025 | return to news
Crackdown on knife crime in Dorset this week
The Sceptre campaign, which runs until Sunday 25 May, will see events including education presentations in 16 schools.
Dorset Police are to conduct various activities across the county this week as part of a crackdown on knife crime.
The Force is supporting the Sceptre campaign, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), which runs until Sunday 25 May.
Education presentations will be provided in 16 schools across the county, seeing students receive information about the dangers of knife carrying and offered support. The fears of seeing someone with a knife can lead young people to carry a knife themselves. Dorset Police is trying to break this cycle through these presentations at local schools.
Knife surrender bins will also be provided at Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth Police Stations during the week of activity. Those who carry knives are encouraged to surrender them without question or repercussions from police, to help keep themselves and others safe. The opening hours of these stations can be found on the Force website.
As well as this, knife arches will be used at public engagement events in both BCP and the wider county, and officers will be joining partners at Bournemouth and Poole College, where a range of knife crime related activity sessions have been lined up for the week.
Chief Inspector Andy Bell, knife crime lead for Dorset Police, said: “Although Dorset has one of the lowest rates of knife crime, we must recognise that incidents do happen, and it therefore remains Force priority to tackle these offences.
“Our ongoing efforts, which include engaging with national campaigns like Sceptre, are crucial to removing knives from our streets.
“Education opportunities in local schools, using the knife arch as an engagement tool and the provision of knife surrender bins are just some of the ways we are building awareness among our communities to prevent and reduce knife crime.
“But the issue of knife crime cannot be solved through policing alone. Through a multi-agency approach and the help of the public, we can all ensure Dorset is a safe place to live.
“Please continue to report any information or concerns you have about someone carrying a knife.”
Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick added: “I understand it can be worrying to hear about knife crime. Though knife crime figures in Dorset are comparatively low, it can still be very concerning to read in the papers or watch TV and hear about people across the nation being attacked and sometimes killed by those who carry a knife.
“The tragic irony is that carrying a weapon yourself does not make you safer, it actually puts you more at risk of harm, and then when you add in the growing perception, especially amongst younger people, that ‘everyone’ carries a knife, even though we know that very few people actually do, a maelstrom of fear ensues and drives people to ‘pick up a knife for protection’.
“That is why I am heartened to see a focus on education and prevention happening. Officers across the county will be working on a variety of issues all relating to stopping knife crime here in Dorset, from hard-hitting enforcement to ensuring that our young people are made aware of the dangers of carrying a knife. I know that enforcement alone is not the answer and that is why the partners commissioned by my office to work on tackling knife crime and our Safer Schools Team are vital in the fight to protect our communities.
“During Sceptre, I will be out and about with officers, as well as visiting with the Safer Schools Team during their engagements to show my support for the work they are all doing to ensure Dorset is a safe place for everyone.”
If you have any information or concerns about someone carrying a knife, report it to Dorset Police online via the website www.dorset.police.uk
People can also report any information anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111.
Retailers can visit this website for guidance on selling knives: www.nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2025
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
