From 11 to 17 November, all 43 police forces in England and Wales came together for Operation Sceptre, a national effort to tackle knife crime and make our communities safer. This campaign, which runs twice a year, aims to take guns off the streets, educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives and build stronger relationships with the community to prevent future violence.

This week of action comes at a crucial time for the communities of Avon and Somerset, who experienced a rise in knife-related tragedies earlier this year. In recent weeks, two trials involving the murders of Darrian Williams, 16, and Max Dixon, 16, and Mason Rist, 15, committed by people carrying knives and bladed weapons, have concluded. . Many of those convicted were children themselves, and two teenagers, both now aged 16, were found guilty of Darrian’s murder and are scheduled to be sentenced on December 5.

Antony Snook, 45, was sentenced to two life sentences for murder, with a minimum of 38 years in prison for the deaths of Max and Mason, and Riley Tolliver, 18, along with three teenagers aged 15 , 16 and 17, are each expected to be sentenced on two counts of murder on December 16.

These losses have had a devastating impact on families and communities, highlighting the urgent need to tackle knife crime and protect young lives.

Throughout the week, police officers focused on their key efforts to directly tackle knife crime. Their actions included:

• 7 arrests for knife possession

• 71 stabbings in public spaces, recovering 6 knives

• 347 knives returned to 22 delivery bins

• 46 community engagement events

• 57 educational workshops and school visits provided

• 60 retail visits to verify that stores are complying with knife sales laws

Earlier this year, to further tackle the root causes of knife violence, Avon and Somerset Police launched Operation Hardy, a team focused on identifying and supporting young people who are at risk of be involved in violence or exploitation and on the disruption of those who seek to cause violence. harm and lead to violence. So far, this team has:

• Review of approximately 175 incidents involving children

• Participation in more than 85 child protection strategy meetings

• Identified 14 potential child exploiters

• Engaged with more than 60 children at risk or involved in serious violence

Chief Inspector Mike Vass, who is leading Avon and Somerset’s efforts to reduce knife crime, highlighted the importance of getting involved early in young people’s lives and working with other agencies to have a lasting impact. “We can’t just arrest our way out of this problem,” he said. “To truly prevent serious violence, we need a multi-agency approach that includes education, local authorities, social services and positive role models. »

Operation Scepter is not only about taking action, but also about raising awareness and involving communities in solutions. “Education and awareness are two of the most powerful tools we have to prevent knife crime,” Chief Inspector Vass said. “By connecting with the public through these events, we’re not just responding to knife crime: we’re working to stop it before it starts. Knife crime affects everyone, from young people carrying knives to families affected by theft, drug crime and violence.

In addition to law enforcement, new laws have made it illegal to possess certain types of “zombie” knives and machetes. To keep these dangerous weapons off the streets, the Home Office has led a national campaign asking people to hand over any prohibited items. Avon and Somerset Police received more than 1,000 knives and bladed items during the effort, ensuring they don’t end up in the wrong hands.

Throughout the region, there are also more than 20 gun drop-off bins available year-round, where anyone can anonymously and safely dispose of their knives or guns, no questions asked.

Alongside this work to prevent serious violence, Avon and Somerset Police have teamed up with HeartSafe UK and NHS England South West to launch the Avon and Somerset Bleed Kit Partnership, an initiative to roll out Bleed Kits emergency bleeding in area communities. This month, this initiative reached over 400 kits which are now installed and instantly accessible to members of the public for use in the event of a life-threatening emergency involving serious bleeding.

Chief Inspector Vass added: “Preventing knife crime is a shared responsibility. The more we work together – police, families, schools and communities – the more likely we are to protect our young people and make our streets safer for everyone.