Sussex Police Smash Knife Crime in Major Crackdown
Sussex Police have launched a massive offensive against knife crime across the county during May 16-22. The week-long blitz, part of the nationwide Operation Sceptre, combined education, engagement, and tough enforcement to tackle knife violence head-on.
Dozens of knives were confiscated, multiple arrests made, and thousands of locals were spoken to about the dangers of carrying blades. Sussex’s knife crime rate continues to drop, sitting well below the national average.
Brighton and Hove: 16 Arrested, Knives Removed
- Sixteen suspects arrested, including two wanted for other offences
- Seventeen knife sweeps by community volunteers recovered one knife and seven weapons, plus two arrests
- Over 2,500 residents engaged through outreach vans, nightlife patrols, schools and public hubs
- Eighty shops visited with theft prevention checks and education
- Underage test purchases at 13 shops caught three selling knives illegally
- Thirteen knives and six weapons dropped anonymously in amnesty bin at John Street station
East Sussex: Sweeps, School Checks & Major Drug Bust
- 28 searches and ten knife sweeps throughout the area, including schools in Eastbourne
- Tense moment in Hailsham as teenagers with a machete were tracked down; police found knives, drugs worth £6,500, cash and drug paraphernalia during a property search
- Seven weapons seized from a Hastings property, including butterfly knives, a Samurai sword and throwing stars
- 1,500 pupils at Bexhill Academy educated on knife crime risks by youth group KnowKnives
- Five arrests made for violence, weapons and drug offences
West Sussex: 150 Weapons Off the Streets
- 150 knives and weapons either seized or voluntarily handed in during the week
- Seventeen schools visited, educating 1,200 students and advising staff on knife crime safety
- Three knife sweeps in hotspots with Sussex Community Search Team
- Joint operation with British Transport Police at Worthing Railway Station leads to cannabis seizure
Chief Inspector Praises Team Effort as Knife Crime Falls
Chief Inspector Simon Yates said: “Operation Sceptre was a really successful week of prevention, engagement and enforcement across Sussex. Tackling an issue as complex as knife crime requires teamwork and a joined-up approach with all agencies in the Violence Reduction Partnership.”
“Last year, over 3,000 children and young people received support aimed at reducing harm from knife crime. Sussex remains a safe place to live, with knife offences falling faster than the national average.”
Crime Commissioner Issues Warning Over Knife Carrying
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added: “Operations like Sceptre show how effective results can be achieved, but also remind us of the deadly consequences of carrying a knife. It’s no safety guarantee—it puts you, your family and friends in danger. Think first and lose the knife, not a life.”
