Dorset Police news site

A week of action by Dorset Police to tackle knife crime has delivered positive results for the region.

The Force took part in the national Sceptre campaign led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to raise awareness of the dangers of knife carrying and knife crime.

The initiative ran during the week commencing Monday 19 May and involved all 43 forces taking part in intensified efforts to crack down on knife crime, with the latest phase centred around ‘bricks and mortar retailers’.

During a week of activity in Dorset, test purchases of knives took place at local businesses with the help of the cadets, and officers engaged with retailers, ensuring they are aware of who they are selling knives to and confirm they are following the appropriate safety guidelines for legal selling and distribution.

As well as this, presentations were delivered to schools across the county focusing on preventative education, knife arches were deployed for officers holding community engagement events, and the public were pointed towards knife surrender bins where knives could be deposited anonymously, without question or repercussions from police.

The Force can report the following results from the week of action:

• Educational presentations delivered to pupils at 16 schools across the county
• Test purchasing carried out at nine shops in the BCP area - one retailer was given words of advice and flagged to Trading Standards after selling four craft blades to a 15 year-old  
• Two imitation firearms surrendered as a result of a knife carrying nominal visit
• Around 200 people engaged with at engagement events

Chief Inspector Darren Harris, of BCP Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “While Dorset has low rates of knife crime - one of the lowest in the country - one person carrying a knife is one too many, and that is why it is a priority to tackle these offences.

“Just because we are one of the safest counties in the country, it doesn’t mean there should be any complacency around knife crime.

“We therefore support this national campaign whole-heartedly and have had a very proactive week carrying out enforcement activities in our communities.

“The focus has been on educating retailers on knife selling, but also educating the public about knife carrying and that it doesn’t make you safer – the opposite in fact, it can put you in danger. 

“Although weeks of action like this one are important, I want to reassure the public that tackling and preventing knife crime, as well as remaining vigilant around knife carrying, is a key priority all year round.

“Dorset Police will relentlessly strive to remove knives from our streets and pursue those who choose to carry them and commit offences.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, said: “Delivering powerful education and engaging with the public while working to remove knives from the streets of Dorset shows the Force’s commitment to tackling these heinous offences and keep our communities safe.

“While we have low rates of knife crime in Dorset, I want to be clear that tackling these offences is a key priority in Dorset with a significant amount of work taking place to keep these rates low and ensure the public feel safe.

“From education and early intervention to robust enforcement, tackling knife crime goes far beyond policing, it needs a whole system approach, which is what I am focused on delivering. That’s why I will continue to work relentlessly to ensure this issue, which can have such a devastating effect on families and communities, is tackled head-on, with the right resources in the right places at the right time.”

For more information visit the knife crime page on the Dorset Police website.

Retailers can visit this website for guidance on selling knives: www.nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance