Door knocks and spot checks planned in lifesaving campaign to cut down on knife crime

Northumbria Police will join the national week-long Operation Sceptre as forces clampdown on the root cause of serious violence.

Its top cops say it is always a priority, having been identified as an issue by the Government – although leaders say this is down to its population and geographical area, which takes in two cities and a large number of towns.

The return of in-class education after lockdown will see officers hold school sessions aimed at 14 to 17-year-olds, warning of the dangers and the devastating consequences weapons can inflict.

Through the ongoing Only Live Once project, those at risk of pressure from peer groups will be helped, tying in with work which focuses on disrupting County Lines drug operations.

Knife wands and a knife arch will be deployed across the force area, while its partnership with other Government organisations such as the National Crime Agency and Border Force will see it continue to make see it knock on doors if people have bought weapons to find out the reason behind the buy.

Checks will be made on shops over sales, while surrender bins for any weapons will be make a return to stations including Southwick in Sunderland, Millbank in South Shields and Bedlington in Northumberland.

Assistant Chief Constable Neil Hutchison said stopping knife crime was a “moral obligation” of the force.

He added: "During my career I have seen this first-hand the devastating impact knife crime has and this type of criminality has no place in our communities.

“Thankfully, here in the North East we see lower levels of knife crime than comparative areas of the country but that doesn’t mean we can be complacent – any incident is still one too many.

“Our officers will be executing warrants, carrying out searches, seizing harmful weapons and anyone caught in possession of a knife will be arrested.

"The community can be reassured this activity is not a one off but an extension of our ongoing work in this area.”

Information about about someone in possession of a weapon or a report of suspicious activity can be passed on using the Tell Us Something page of the force’s website or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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