A samurai sword, two lock knives and a metal pole have been recovered by Nottinghamshire Police’s City Centre Operation Reacher Team during a busy week of knife-crime related activity.
The team’s activity, in support of the national Operation Sceptre knife crime campaign, also included weapons sweeps in the areas of the Market Square, Broadmarsh, Sneinton Market, St Peter’s Church and Victoria Park.
Six people were stopped and searched and visits were made to two people who imported knives into the UK and who voluntarily surrendered them following police advice.
The samurai sword was handed in by a council worker whose husband had bought it as an ornament – although they never had it out of its box.
Sergeant Alice Bartle, of the City Centre Operation Reacher Team, said: “We all need to work together to drive down knife crime even further in the city and county and the force is fully committed to working with its partners, and with the support of the public, to making our streets safer.
“Every knife or bladed weapon we seize or which is handed in has the potential to save a life.
“Operation Sceptre may be drawing to a close but the force’s relentless efforts to tackle knife crime are ongoing all year round and we remain committed to using a mixture of engagement, education and enforcement to reduce violence in our communities.”
Knife crime in Nottinghamshire fell by 11 percent in the year end to June 2020. This was in stark contrast to the regional and national picture (regional average rise of seven percent and nationwide fall of only one per cent across England and Wales).
As part of Operation Sceptre the force has been shining a light on some of the key partnership projects already up and running in the county which are working to prevent violence and steer young people away from crime.
Activity taking place this week has also included virtual educational sessions on knife crime for schoolchildren, community weapons sweeps, patrols in knife crime hot-spot areas and proactive operations.
The force’s new Operation Reacher teams have also been deployed to support the proactive knife crime work going on in the city and county.
If you are concerned about someone you know carrying a knife or weapon, you can report it to Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always dial 999.
