Knives can be surrendered anonymously during an amnesty in Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire Constabulary will conduct a week of action to combat knife crime between Monday, May 15 and Sunday, May 21 as part of Operation Sceptre, a national knife crime initiative.

Despite knife related crime remaining lower in Herts than in other parts of the country, the campaign aims to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is illegal and will not help to keep you safe.

As part of the initiative, the force will be conducting activities aimed at reducing knife crime, including conducting knife sweeps and talking to retailers to ensure knives are not sold to under 18 year olds, as well as educating young people about the dangers of carrying a knife.

Inspector Emma Bilsdon, who is leading on the operational activity for Operation Sceptre, said: “Knife crime remains low in the county but the Op Sceptre weeks of action are part of our continuing strategy to tackle violent crime.

“They are a great opportunity to reduce the number of knives in circulation and raise awareness of issues around carrying knives, in particular that carrying a knife in public is illegal and could result in arrest.

“The week of action is also a chance to talk with young people in person and via social media about the dangers of carrying a knife, and also remind local businesses that selling certain knives to anyone under 18 is illegal.”

During the campaign, any knives in your possession that you do not want or should not have, can be surrendered at Hatfield, Stevenage or Watford police stations. 

There will also be temporary knife bins in locations around the county, and there are permanent surrender bins in Waltham Cross, details of which can be found at www.herts.police.uk/amnesty

Items can be surrendered anonymously during the amnesty in the knife bins provided. The locations and opening times of these stations can be found at www.herts.police.uk/stations.

 

Useful links

Hertfordshire Constabulary‘s Gangs and Schools team regularly live stream events for young people online, to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and gang involvement. You can view these events on the police's YouTube channel www.youtube.com/hertspolice

If you are concerned or have information about someone carrying knives or are aware of anyone involved in knife crime, you can report this by calling the Hertfordshire Constabulary non-emergency number 101.

You can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report or speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via online web chat, which can be launched via herts.police.uk/contact.

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

If you would like further information on support services relating to knife crime contact Fearless.org.

 

                                                                                                                                

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