Cheshire Constabulary partnering with Warrington Wolves in support of Operation Sceptre

Warrington residents have also been engaging with officers from the Local Policing Unit and members of the team's squad across the town as they share the message that no one needs to pick up a knife in order to feel safe or protected.

Operation Sceptre will continue through to Sunday 19 May, with Warrington officers planning to join the Wolves at their home ground at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for a number of safety talks at the Youth Zone on Saturday 18 May.

During this event, residents will be invited to voluntarily surrender any unwanted knives or bladed articles to police as part of a knife surrender event, with a surrender bin located outside of the stadium itself.

Following the week of action, the partnership between the Constabulary and 'The Wire' will begin to incorporate other aspects of community engagement and policing as well as collaborative support with further police campaigns and initiatives where applicable.

Superintendent Adam Ross, Northern Area Commander for Warrington, said:
"This campaign has been a great opportunity to showcase the work our officers put in on a daily basis to keep our streets safe from knife crime, as well as highlighting all the engagement we deliver to various local community groups and the work we do with our partner organisations.

“This week of action is special for us here in Warrington in particular, as it marks the start of a long-running collaboration between the Constabulary and the team at Warrington Wolves, who will be helping us deliver the message that no one needs to carry a knife in order to feel safe or protected on our streets.

“Since the start of the week, my officers have been out across the town with members of the squad, engaging with the local community, visiting Warrington’s young people at schools and colleges and within youth organisations.

"The squad have also kindly agreed to host our officers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium this weekend for a knife surrender event, in which residents can safely and securely dispose of any unwanted blades, and several safety talks that we will be delivering at the Youth Zone.

“Moving forward, our work with the Wolves will incorporate other aspects of community engagement and policing and will allow us to strengthen our relationship with the local community throughout Warrington, particularly with the younger generation.

"We want everyone in Warrington to feel that they can come to us with any issues, especially those as serious as knife crime, so we can take immediate action."

Claire Gamble, Community Engagement Manager at Warrington Wolves, said:
"With Warrington Wolves having such a large presence in the Town we are happy to back the Local Policing Unit with Operation Sceptre.

"The Club has a big voice and a large reach, especially with the younger generation in the Town, having one of our local homegrown players, Danny Walker face up the campaign we hope that this will help youngsters to choose the correct path and bring home the importance of the impact crime, and especially knife crime can have on them and those around them.

"We are proud to be a part of this and looking forward to forming a close working relationship with the Local Policing Unit going forward"

To report any type of crime involving weapons, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
Information can also be passed to the force online via Report | Cheshire Constabulary