Northumbria Police has recovered 470 knifes and made 141 arrests in a week of action in an attempt to clamp down on knife crime.
The local week of action was part of Operation Sceptre, which has been supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, local authorities in the Northumbria Police area, and campaigner Tanya Brown, whose son Connor was fatally stabbed in 2019. The week saw a total of 440 knives dropped into surrender bins placed at several stations, with another 30 seized during searches, sweeps and warrants.
A total of 141 people were arrested, 18 of which were for knife related offences and 23 weapons sweeps were carried out. Officers also conducted 258 stop and searches and executed 14 warrants. Joint work with the UK Border Force also saw 45 people issued with written warnings after attempting to import knives and offensive weapons in the country.
Read more: 'Knives are not trophies' - Mum of murdered Connor Brown urges people to stop carrying weapons
Helena Barron, serious violence and knife crime chief lead superintendent, said: "Knives ruin lives and there’s no escaping that fact. By carrying a knife, you run the risk of destroying multiple lives, including your own, and we can’t spread that message far enough.
"As police we are determined to do all we can to tackle knife crime, but we know we can’t do this alone as such a societal issue really needs a joined-up community response. We’d ask that people continue to trust in us by sharing their concerns, reporting what they see, helping us dispel myths and misconceptions that carrying a weapon is acceptable, and standing firm with us as we work to eradicate serious violence."
Northumbria Police's Violence Reduction Unit has also worked with young people through the week with aim of educating them on the dangers of carrying knives, while there has been an increased police presence across North East transport networks during the campaign.
Helena finished: "Just because this dedicated week of action of over, our work to tackle this issue will not stop. No family should have to experience the loss that this senseless crime brings, and we'll continue to take swift, robust action against anyone who tries to bring harm to our communities."
Northumbria Police encouraged anyone who has concerns about knife crime to share them via the 'Tell us Something' page on its website. Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting their website.
The Chronicle launched its Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign in February in response to a string of recent tragedies, which included three teenagers being stabbed to death in the space of just four months.
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