Police made 14 arrests and seized a number of weapons during a week of action to combat knife crime in Sussex.
Officers from Sussex Police joined forces across the country to support Operation Sceptre – a national week of education, engagement, and enforcement around knife crime between November 13 and 19.
The intensive week of action saw 19 knives seized across Sussex through arrests, knife sweeps, stop searches and search warrants. Another 1,352 knives were surrendered by members of the public in 15 amnesty bins.
Thousands of people were also spoken to about the dangers of carrying a knife, including young people at schools and youth centres.
And a bleed control kit was installed in Hastings town centre on November 15, on the wall of Lloyds Bank in Wellington Place, funded by the Safer Hastings Partnership. The kits are designed to prevent catastrophic blood loss while waiting for an ambulance.
The force’s activity complements its year-round work to combat knife crime and serious violence, known as Operation Safety, which has a primary focus on reducing knife crime committed in public spaces against young people.
The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows 57 recorded knife offences per 100,000 population in the year ending March 2023, while the national average stands at 89 per 100,000 based on the 39 forces who use this recording method.
Chief Inspector Simon Yates, the force lead for knife crime and serious violence, said: “As police officers, we see the devastating consequences of these deadly weapons, particularly in young people, and we must do everything we can to educate people and prevent access to knives that are used for violence, intimidation and harm.
“We work relentlessly all year round to stamp out knife crime in our communities and Op Sceptre is a great opportunity to showcase that work.
“Tackling an issue as complex as knife crime also requires teamwork and we work with various partners to understand the motivations behind carrying a knife and its associated crime.
“I would like to thank members of the public for their engagement during the week and for supporting our efforts to ensure that knife crime in Sussex remains below the national average and that Sussex remains a safe place to live and work.”
