The week-long crackdown on knife crime kicked off on Monday 16 May 2022, seeing officers zero in on Maidstone’s busy public spots like the High Street and Brenchley Gardens.
Targeting Drug Dealers and Knife Carriers
Working shoulder-to-shoulder with British Transport Police and Kent Police’s county lines and gangs units, cops have been hunting down suspects travelling into town to peddle class A drugs. They’ve also carried out weapon sweeps in hotspots where knives have cropped up before, making sure those blades don’t see the light of day.
Shops Get a Safety Check
Retailers haven’t been forgotten. Officers have dropped by to remind shopkeepers about the law on selling knives and urged them to display age restriction warnings and safety advice posters. Most shops passed with flying colours, but a few got a stern word to tighten up their safety measures.
‘Relentless’ Police Warning to Knife Carriers
Inspector Steve Kent from Maidstone’s Community Safety Unit said: “The tactics used this week in connection with Operation Sceptre support our ongoing work to remove weapons from our streets. My message to those who think nothing of bringing knives to the county town is clear: our officers are working in uniform and plain clothes and will be relentless in their efforts to bring you to justice.”
With police determined to clean up the streets, knife carriers and drug dealers beware – Maidstone is not the place to risk it.
