Knife Crime Clampdown: Sussex Police Take Action During Op Sceptre
Sussex Police went full throttle during Op Sceptre, a national knife crime crackdown week. They spoke to nearly 2,000 schoolkids and hosted street events, all to slam the brakes on knife crime.
Schools, Streets, and Surrendered Blades
- From November 14, officers hit up 18 schools across Sussex, warning youngsters about the dangers of carrying knives.
- Seven street engagement events took place, including briefings at taxi ranks and high-visibility patrols.
- The campaign saw 158 bladed weapons handed in, plus 23 more seized via arrests, warrants, and sweeps.
- High-intensity stop-and-searches led to 26 arrests in total, backed by intelligence-led knife sweeps.
- To keep knives away from teenagers, Sussex Police ran 39 test purchases on retailers: 36 passed, 3 failed.
Minister and Top Brass Visit Brighton
On November 16, Policing, Crime and Fire Minister Chris Philp MP dropped by Brighton. He was joined by Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner, serious violence lead Chief Inspector Simon Yates, Sergeant Liz Reschwamm, and Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne.
Sussex Still Safer Than National Average
Despite concerns, Sussex remains one of the safer places in the UK to live. Office for National Statistics data shows Sussex recorded 57 knife offences per 100,000 people in the year ending June 2022 – well below the national average of 84 from 37 comparable forces.
Knife crime has plummeted by 50% in 15 hotspot zones since 2019. These hotspots are tiny 150m² areas where violent incidents cluster.
Chief Inspector Simon Yates said: “It’s important to emphasise that Sussex is a safe place to live.“Although this work is spotlighted during Op Sceptre, be assured it runs quietly year-round. Targeted efforts in hotspot areas are pushing knife crime off our streets.“Thanks to the hardworking officers and volunteers making our communities safer.“Amnesty bins remain across the county for anyone wanting to get rid of bladed weapons safely.”
Want to know more about Sussex’s fight against knife crime? Head to the Op Safety page for the latest updates.
