South Yorkshire Police join national week of action to tackle knife crime

This week we are taking part in Sceptre, a national week of action for police forces across the UK to show what they are doing to tackle and reduce knife crime in local communities.

Between today (Monday 11 November) and Sunday (17 November), we will be showcasing our ongoing commitment to reducing knife crime across South Yorkshire, showing you the work which goes on behind the scenes daily, bringing these dangerous weapons off the streets.

Detective Superintendent David Cowley, who is the force lead for knife crime, said:

“Taking part in this week allows us to show our residents that we are dedicated to reducing knife crime on our streets, making South Yorkshire a safe place for everyone to enjoy.

“Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the devastating effect of knife crime, with families and friends losing loved ones to this awful crime.

“This year alone, four people have lost their lives because of homicides involving knives, this is not acceptable.

“Reducing knife crime remains a priority for our force and we will continue to seek to bring offenders to justice.”

Year-round, we have many different enforcement and engagement activities ongoing and this week we will provide a behind the scenes look into what this includes. Our officers regularly conduct high-visibility and plain clothed patrols in our most serious violent crime hotspot areas, complete test purchase operations on premises which sell bladed articles, visit local schools and youth groups on engagement and education visits and complete knife arch operations in our night-time economy. All with the aim to identify knife carriers and reduce this violent crime on our streets.

Detective Supt Cowley adds:

“Delivering education sessions and raising awareness around the dangers of carrying knives is one of the things we focus on as a force, in addition to our enforcement activity.

“Working in partnership with LifeWise, the Joint Community Safety Department, we seek to engage with young people all across the region, not only showing them the dangerous that carrying a knife can bring to themselves and others, but also explaining the consequences of carrying.”

If you do own a knife, or bladed article, there are many knife amnesty bins located across South Yorkshire which you can dispose of these in a safe and anonymous way.

Locations include:

• Vape Store, Regent Street, Barnsley
• Junction of Warmsworth Road/ Anelay Road, Balby, Doncaster
• Junction of Broxholme Lane/Highfield Road/Netherhall Road, Doncaster city centre
• Eastwood Lane, Rotherham town centre
• Vape Shack, Church Street, Swinton, Rotherham
• Wolseley Road, Sharrow, Sheffield
• Birley Moor Roach, Frencheville, Sheffield
• Devonshire Green (off Fitzwilliam Street), Sheffield city centre
• HGDT, The Campus, Packhorse Lane, Sheffield
• Concrete Campus, Unit 7 Jordanthorpe Centre, Sheffield
• Bush Fire, Halifax Road, Sheffield

We will be posting content from Sceptre throughout the week, so keep an eye on our channels for the latest updates.