Over the last few days, officers from the local safer neighbourhood team have taken part in various events to raise awareness around the dangers of knife crime. As well as the dangers knife crime poses, we aim to highlight the damaging effect it has on people and communities.

On Monday we spent some time in schools talking to some year 6 classes around the dangers of knives and the laws around them. Later on we held a knife amnesty event. This was an opportunity for those with any unwanted knives to hand them over and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

Yesterday, we conducted knife sweeps across local parks. Throughout the year, we attend incidents where knives have been carelessly discarded in wooded areas. By doing these sweeps we hope to come across sharp objects and take them away before they can cause any harm.

Over the next couple of days we will be visiting businesses that sell knives. We want businesses to understand their role in keeping knives out of the hands of criminals and people under legal age to be buying such items.

Tomorrow afternoon, we are hosting a Virtual Reality event on Heanor Market Place. With this, people can play as a virtual character in a role where the game revolves around knife crime and making the right choices.

Operation Sceptre is an initiative we take part in at different points of the year but even outside of these weeks the message is clear. 

Drop The Knife To Save A Life. #OPSceptre #DropTheKnife #KnivesShatterLives