A national week of action to tackle knife crime began on Monday and Hampshire Constabulary is one of the many forces across the country to get on board.

Operation Sceptre will see intensified efforts through operations carried out with partner agencies.

As part of these operations the force will target habitual knife carriers and engage with children, young people and parents to educate them about the risks of carrying a knife and signpost them to relevant support services.

Operation Sceptre will also highlight ongoing work with schools, charities, retailers, the health service and communities to reduce knife crime and keep people safe.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, reducing knife crime has remained a top priority for policing nationally.

As part of Operation Sceptre, police will partner with Border Force nationally to monitor knives and other offensive weapons, including attempts to import illegal items, as well as sharing intelligence.

Knife crime offences have been rising since 2013/14; however statistics released by the Office for National Statistics in October 2020 show a one per cent decrease in offences involving knives or sharp instruments recorded by the police in the year ending June 2020. This is predominately due to coronavirus and the lockdown restrictions. However, in recent years increases in knife crime have slowed and the police say they will continue working with partners to reduce this further and make communities safer.

Early intervention to steer young people away from knife crime and putting in place measures to tackle the root causes remains vital.

The police say they are continuing to work closely with retailers, including those who operate online, and with Trading Standards to come up with solutions to ensure weapons are not falling into the wrong hands. They have had positive outcomes from recent work with Ali Baba, eBay and Facebook, who have all introduced new measures to restrict the sale of knives to people in the UK – particularly those under the age of 18.

Hampshire Constabulary’s force lead for knife crime, Chief Inspector John Halfacre said, “Reducing knife crime requires a multi-agency response across all communities, the public, private and charity sectors in order to deliver lasting long-term change.

“Op Sceptre will see both an increase in operational policing activity as well as preventative work with schools and clubs to deliver educational workshops to show young people why carrying a knife is never the right choice.

“Across the country there is a structured, overarching approach to tackling knife crime that involves crucial engagement and prevention work. This work is carried out together with partner agencies including Violence Reduction Units and communities.

“Hampshire is a safe place to live, and we’re committed to do our best to ensure we continue to tackle and reduce violence as a priority.

“We are aware some young people carry a knife because of the increasing acceptance among their peers. For others they may carry a knife, simply because they are afraid. Trying to reach these individuals, and change their mind-set, is a complex task and requires the efforts of not just the police, but local schools, charities, friends and families, and prominent members of the community.

“We must ensure that young people know that carrying a knife, even if they have no intention of using it, is a crime and can increase the likelihood of suffering an injury or facing a criminal record.”

If you are concerned about someone you know carrying a knife or weapon, you can report it to police or you can give information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by using an anonymous online form, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.