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UK Police Launch Weeklong Knife-Crime Crackdown Under Operation Sceptre

The campaign concentrates weapon sweeps, retailer compliance tests, school programmes to build on recent local declines.

Overview

  • Running November 17–23, forces across England and Wales are increasing stop‑searches, deploying knife‑detection arches, conducting intelligence‑led sweeps, and promoting surrender bins and anonymous reporting to CrimeStoppers.
  • Dorset Police are hosting public engagement with knife arches in Weymouth and Bournemouth, delivering school presentations on risks, and providing surrender bins at local stations.
  • West Mercia Police are prioritising responsible knife sales by retailers and early intervention through the Steer Clear programme, with surrender bins available in Telford, Shrewsbury, and Kidderminster.
  • Wiltshire Police are using cadets for test‑purchase checks to curb unlawful sales and report a near 9% year‑on‑year reduction in knife and blade incidents to April 2025.
  • Merseyside Police highlight reaching more than 20,000 young people through Operation Prospect and cite an 8% fall in knife‑enabled crime plus a 28.8% reduction in hotspot serious violence.