Local policing teams have been out and about speaking to members of the community in the efforts to educate, prevent and tackle knife crime.
One of those teams, Derby West, invited partners and members of the community to come along with them as they conducted a knife sweep, community litter pick, and spoke to residents on Friday (19 May).
Knife sweeps are just one way that teams look to prevent knife crime, looking for any discarded items that have the potential to be dangerous. These have been taking place across the county over the course of Operation Sceptre (15-21 May).
Operation Sceptre is the national week of action on knife crime and is a great opportunity for officers and staff to highlight the many ways they work to tackle knife crime and prevent it year-round.
The team began their morning at the King George V playing field, where they searched the fields and adjoining hedgerow.
PCSO Supervisor Sam Coleman, who helped to organise the proactive work, said: “We’ve been doing a lot of education in schools, early intervention, prevention and some enforcement, including this knife sweep of a local park.
“Working with our partner agencies is invaluable across the board to prevent and tackle knife crime.
“We’re so fortunate to have partners, and voluntary groups, who work so closely with us to benefit the community.”
One of the groups the team was joined by was Carlisle Against Crime, a local community group from Littleover, which was initially set up in 1999 when there was no Safer Neighbourhood Team, after concerns from residents of Carlisle Avenue around anti-social behaviour.
Today, they continue to work alongside the proactive local Safer Neighbourhood Team to help tackle and prevent a wide variety of crime.
Dawn Gee, the group’s founder, said: “Every year we get involved in the Operation Sceptre to do the knife sweeps on the park which I think is very important.
“Throughout the year we work to keep a safe community. I think it’s very important that all parties come together – the police, the PCSO’s, Public Protection Officers, all of us really.
“We all have a part to play and this sweep is one where we’re really pleased a lot of people have come out from Carlilse Against Crime to support this venture.”
