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26/10/2015
Knife Crime Initiative Launched
The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a week of activity to tackle knife crime in the Capital, following a successful campaign in the summer.
Announcing the initiative, Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth, currently heading up the Trident Gang Crime Command, said: "Our summer operation had a significant impact, with more than 900 knives recovered during a period of weeks and over 270 arrests. For this reason we are running a second tranche to coincide with half term, where we will again be looking to reduce the number of knives in circulation, taking them out of the hands of those individuals intent on using them.
"We have a number of operations planned throughout the Capital, including activity to target known offenders, focussed and intelligence-led stop and search and weapon sweeps in areas where intelligence suggests offenders are hiding knives in public areas to avoid being caught in possession of them.
"In support of our operational activity we are hosting a bespoke digital campaign via our social media channels, aimed at providing advice to those who want to know where to turn if they have concerns about knife crime. It features interviews with family members of knife crime murder victims, a Safer Schools Officer educating about how to stay safe and a blog by a Family Liaison Officer."
Local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, specialist officers from the Territorial Support Group and Trident Gang Crime Command will be visible, conducting high visibility patrols on estates and in places where people are believed to be carrying knives.
Officers from Roads and Transport Policing Command will be visible at transport hubs using knife wands to catch and deter those carrying knives on public transport.
ANPR operations will be carried out in hotspot areas for knife crime, to capture people involved in knife crime who have access to motor vehicles.
Trident officers who deal with gang crime will also be supporting the activity across London to maximise all opportunities to gather evidence and detect violent crimes and offenders.
Officers will be visiting the homes of individuals who have previously been arrested for possession of a knife. They will be reminded that we know who they are and given a letter warning them that they could face a prison sentence if they carry a knife.
The types of knives being seized by officers on the streets of London are broad and varied, ranging from hunting knives and flick knives to those you would expect to find in the kitchen of any home.
As part of the Met's prevention strategy we are looking at the supply of knives to young people. During the week, officers will be working with Trading Standards enforcement and young people from the Met Police Cadets to identify retail stores that are selling knives to anyone under the age of 18.
(MH/CD)
Announcing the initiative, Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth, currently heading up the Trident Gang Crime Command, said: "Our summer operation had a significant impact, with more than 900 knives recovered during a period of weeks and over 270 arrests. For this reason we are running a second tranche to coincide with half term, where we will again be looking to reduce the number of knives in circulation, taking them out of the hands of those individuals intent on using them.
"We have a number of operations planned throughout the Capital, including activity to target known offenders, focussed and intelligence-led stop and search and weapon sweeps in areas where intelligence suggests offenders are hiding knives in public areas to avoid being caught in possession of them.
"In support of our operational activity we are hosting a bespoke digital campaign via our social media channels, aimed at providing advice to those who want to know where to turn if they have concerns about knife crime. It features interviews with family members of knife crime murder victims, a Safer Schools Officer educating about how to stay safe and a blog by a Family Liaison Officer."
Local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, specialist officers from the Territorial Support Group and Trident Gang Crime Command will be visible, conducting high visibility patrols on estates and in places where people are believed to be carrying knives.
Officers from Roads and Transport Policing Command will be visible at transport hubs using knife wands to catch and deter those carrying knives on public transport.
ANPR operations will be carried out in hotspot areas for knife crime, to capture people involved in knife crime who have access to motor vehicles.
Trident officers who deal with gang crime will also be supporting the activity across London to maximise all opportunities to gather evidence and detect violent crimes and offenders.
Officers will be visiting the homes of individuals who have previously been arrested for possession of a knife. They will be reminded that we know who they are and given a letter warning them that they could face a prison sentence if they carry a knife.
The types of knives being seized by officers on the streets of London are broad and varied, ranging from hunting knives and flick knives to those you would expect to find in the kitchen of any home.
As part of the Met's prevention strategy we are looking at the supply of knives to young people. During the week, officers will be working with Trading Standards enforcement and young people from the Met Police Cadets to identify retail stores that are selling knives to anyone under the age of 18.
(MH/CD)
Related UK National News Stories
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29 June 2010
Tragic Eastender Backs Knife Scheme
Fact and fiction are merging today as a former 'TV soap' character uses her own all-too real tragedy to help tackle the scourge of knife crime in the UK. Brooke Kinsella is to head up a fact-finding mission into the work of schemes designed to stop young people carrying and using knives, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.
Tragic Eastender Backs Knife Scheme
Fact and fiction are merging today as a former 'TV soap' character uses her own all-too real tragedy to help tackle the scourge of knife crime in the UK. Brooke Kinsella is to head up a fact-finding mission into the work of schemes designed to stop young people carrying and using knives, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today.
16 October 2008
Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says
Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed. The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.
Prison Does Not Put Teens Off Carrying Knives, Report Says
Teenagers believe they are more likely to be 'tagged' by the courts for carrying a knife, rather than have to face tough sentences, research has revealed. The report 'Why Carry A Weapon?' questioned a group of teens aged from 14 to 16 who had either been excluded from school or were serving time in custody.
14 July 2006
Knife amnesty makes streets safer
The Home Office has today revealed that a total of 89,864 knives were handed over during the National five week Knife Amnesty. During the period from May 24 until June 30, people were encouraged to dispose of their knives in secure bins at police stations throughout England and Wales.
Knife amnesty makes streets safer
The Home Office has today revealed that a total of 89,864 knives were handed over during the National five week Knife Amnesty. During the period from May 24 until June 30, people were encouraged to dispose of their knives in secure bins at police stations throughout England and Wales.
11 March 2009
Extra £5m To Clamp Down On Knife Crime
An extra £5 million to tackle knife crime has been announced by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The new funding will be used to extend the government's 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) for another year and to include two new police force areas: Kent and Hampshire.
Extra £5m To Clamp Down On Knife Crime
An extra £5 million to tackle knife crime has been announced by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The new funding will be used to extend the government's 'Tackling Knives Action Programme' (TKAP) for another year and to include two new police force areas: Kent and Hampshire.
03 July 2008
Operation Blunt Makes Sharp Progress
Operation Blunt II has seen a recovery of more than 500 knives, it has been announced. London's Mayor Boris Johnson and Commissioner Sir Ian Blair announced the figures at a joint press conference at City Hall detailing the activity to target knife crime in the capital.
Operation Blunt Makes Sharp Progress
Operation Blunt II has seen a recovery of more than 500 knives, it has been announced. London's Mayor Boris Johnson and Commissioner Sir Ian Blair announced the figures at a joint press conference at City Hall detailing the activity to target knife crime in the capital.
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