Police join national campaign to educate public on dangers of knife carrying
Dorset Police is helping to raise awareness around knife carrying and knife crime by taking part in a national campaign.
The Sceptre campaign, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), will run from Monday 19 May to Sunday 25 May 2025 and will see intensified efforts to crack down on knife crime by police forces across the country.
Various activities have been lined up to take place in Dorset throughout the week.
Education presentations will be provided in 16 schools across the county, seeing students receive information about the dangers of knife carrying and offered support. The fear of seeing someone with a knife can in-turn lead to a young person to carry a knife themselves. Dorset Police is trying to break this cycle through these presentations at local schools.
Knife surrender bins will also be provided at Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth police stations during the week of activity. Those who carry knives are encouraged to surrender them without question or repercussions from police, to help keep themselves and others safe. You can find the opening hours of these stations on the Force website.
As well as this, knife arches will be used at public engagement events in both BCP and the wider county, and officers will be joining partners at Bournemouth and Poole College, where a range of knife crime related activity sessions have been lined up for the week.
Chief Inspector Andy Bell, knife crime lead for Dorset Police, said: “Although Dorset has one of the lowest rates of knife crime, we must recognise that incidents do happen, and it therefore remains Force priority to tackle these offences.
“Our ongoing efforts, which include engaging with national campaigns like Sceptre, are crucial to removing knives from our streets.
“Education opportunities in local schools, using the knife arch as an engagement tool and the provision of knife surrender bins are just some of the ways we are building awareness among our communities to prevent and reduce knife crime.
“But the issue of knife crime cannot be solved through policing alone. Through a multi-agency approach and the help of the public, we can all ensure Dorset is a safe place to live.
“Please continue to report any information or concerns you have about someone carrying a knife.”
Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick added: “I understand it can be worrying to hear about knife crime. Though knife crime figures in Dorset are comparatively low, it can still be very concerning to read in the papers or watch TV and hear about people across the nation being attacked and sometimes killed by those who carry a knife.
“The tragic irony is that carrying a weapon yourself does not make you safer, it actually puts you more at risk of harm and then when you add in the growing perception, especially amongst younger people that ‘everyone’ carries a knife, even though we know that very few people actually do, a maelstrom of fear ensues and drives people to ‘pick up a knife for protection’.
“That is why I am heartened to see a focus on education and prevention happening. Officers across the county will be working on a variety of issues all relating to stopping knife crime here in Dorset, from hard-hitting enforcement to ensuring that our young people are made aware of the dangers of carrying a knife. I know that enforcement alone is not the answer and that is why the partners commissioned by my office to work on tackling knife crime and our Safer Schools Team are vital in the fight to protect our communities.
“During Sceptre, I will be out and about with officers, as well as visiting with the Safer Schools Team during their engagements to show my support for the work they are all doing to ensure Dorset is a safe place for everyone.”
If you have any information or concerns about someone carrying a knife, please report it to Dorset Police online via the website www.dorset.police.uk
You can also report any information anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111. Your information could help save a life.
Retailers can visit this website for guidance on selling knives: www.nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance