Sussex Police Launch Major Knife Crime Crackdown
Sussex Police went full throttle last week with a massive knife crime blitz from May 16 to 22. Dozens of knives were seized, multiple arrests made, and thousands of locals spoken to about the dangers of carrying blades.
Operation Sceptre Links with Op Safety to Slash Knife Crime
Operation Sceptre teamed up closely with Operation Safety, Sussex Police’s dedicated campaign targeting knife violence, especially among young people in public spaces. The results are promising — knife crime in Sussex is falling. Recorded offences hit 51 per 100,000 people up to September 2021, well below the national average of 91.
Brighton and Hove: Arrests, Sweeps, and Serious Engagement
- Sixteen arrests made, including two long wanted suspects.
- Seventeen knife sweeps recovered one knife and seven other weapons, plus two more arrests.
- Over 2,500 meaningful chats with locals via engagement vans in nightlife hotspots, schools and community hubs.
- Eighty shops checked for knife theft prevention; three failed underage test purchases out of 13 attempts.
- Thirteen knives handed in anonymously at the John Street amnesty bin.
East Sussex: Machete Arrest and Rare Weapon Haul
- 28 searches and 10 knife sweeps, including at two Eastbourne schools to crack down on hidden weapons.
- Quick police action caught two teens with a machete near Hailsham Tesco; a home search found a large kitchen knife plus drugs and cash.
- Seven weapons seized from a Hastings property, including butterfly, flick, and “zombie” knives, a throwing star and a Samurai sword.
- 1,500 Bexhill Academy students got tough knife crime education from youth charity KnowKnives.
- Five arrests related to violent, weapons and drug offences during the operation.
West Sussex: Weapons Seized and School Visits
- A whopping 150 weapons seized or handed in during the week.
- Police visited 17 schools, educating 1,200 students and giving safety advice to staff.
- Knife sweeps in problem areas with Sussex Community Search Team and British Transport Police patrols at Worthing Station led to cannabis seizures.
Leaders Praise Team Effort as Knife Crime Drops in Sussex
“Operation Sceptre was a really successful week of prevention, engagement and enforcement across Sussex,” said Chief Inspector Simon Yates. “Last year, over 3,000 children and young people received support tackling the root causes of knife crime. Sussex remains a safe place to live, with knife crime rates dropping ahead of the national average.”
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added: “We’re relentlessly pursuing serious violence offenders, driving down knife crime and clearing dangerous weapons off our streets. Carrying a knife won’t keep you safe — it endangers you, your family and friends. Think first. Lose the knife, not a life.”
