Hundreds of students across Dorset have been taught about the dangers of knife crime thanks to a police campaign.
Dorset Police took part in 'Operation Sceptre’, raising awareness around knife carrying and knife crime and the police response in detecting and preventing it.
The campaign ran from Monday May 13 to Sunday May 19 and supports a wider strategy to remove dangerous weapons from the streets of Dorset and keep communities safe.
READ: Dorset Police knife crime awareness week of action
The fear of seeing someone with a knife can in-turn lead to a young person to carry a knife themselves and Dorset Police is trying to break this cycle through presentations at local schools.
Education presentations were provided to over 770 students who received information about the dangers of knife carrying.
A knife surrender bin was also provided at Weymouth Police station to encourage those who carry a knife to surrender them anonymously and safely, without question or repercussions.
Across the week the force also carried out eight stop and searches, seized six weapons and made three arrests.
David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset said: “Although Dorset is a very safe place to live, work and visit I have been saying for a very long time now that while young people are still picking up knives thinking they are a form of protection, there is still more work to do and I will continue my campaign to drive down this offence.
"I am pleased to see a campaign like Sceptre taking place, not only in Dorset but across the country - tackling knife crime in a variety of ways, from education in schools to tough enforcement and test purchases.
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"Dorset has had some good results and I’m pleased to see arrests being made and weapons being seized, but this ‘week of action’ isn’t a one off.
"Dorset Police proactively go out every day of the year, enforcing the law, arresting offenders, removing weapons from circulation and preventing knife crime.
"Raising awareness, encouraging reporting, supporting victims, and routinely educating about the consequences is an absolute must, if we are to make in-roads into tackling this devastating crime and I would like to thank all the officers, staff and partners involved in the Sceptre campaign.”
During the Sceptre intensification weeks, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) also worked with Border Force to crack down on the importation of illegal weapons.
PICTURES: Moment knifeman pulls knife on terrified Weymouth shop staff
Officers carried out 15 visits across the South West to people who bought weapons online, which included flick knives, karambits, butterfly knives and swords.
SWROCU DI Lucy Edgeworth, who sits on the National Knife Crime Working Group, said: “SWROCU is committed to tackling the importation of illegal knives into the South West by working closely with Dorset Police and partners to offer advice and assistance and to disrupt this area of criminality.
“The devastation caused by knife crime continues to fracture our communities and destroy lives. I urge parents to have conversations with their children, to search rooms and bags and to know what knives are in your kitchen as they are the most common weapon used to cause serious injury in the UK.”
To report someone carrying a knife visit dorset.police.uk/tua.
Or report anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111.
Retailers can visit this website for guidance on selling knives: www.nbcc.police.uk/knifeguidance
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