Cheshire Constabulary to support week-long national campaign tackling knife crime

Next week, Cheshire Constabulary will be supporting a national campaign aimed at keeping knives off the streets while educating people about the dangers of knife crime.

Between Monday 19 May and Sunday 25 May, Cheshire Constabulary will be supporting police forces across the country by taking part in a national effort aiming to reduce the impact of knife crime in our communities, known as Sceptre (previously known as “Operation Sceptre”).

The Constabulary’s officers work all year round to ensure the number of knives being carried across the county remains as low as possible. Over the course of the next week these efforts will be further intensified through enforcement and engagement initiatives.

There will be a number of opportunities to safely dispose of any knives, bladed weapons and knuckle dusters into designated surrender points across the seven Local Policing Unit (LPU) areas.

Knife crime in Cheshire remains comparatively low when compared to other forces in England and Wales. Recent figures show that possession of weapons offences across the county have fallen by 6.6%, with 727 incidents recorded in the 12 months to April 2025, compared to 778 recorded in the previous year.

The focal point for the May 2025 week of action will also be ensuring the county’s retailers are aware of the rules and regulations surrounding the sale of bladed articles.

Other activities during the operation will include community knife sweeps, engagement in the community, as well as an increased visible policing presence to provide reassurance.

Superintendent Cath Jones, who is Cheshire Constabulary’s knife crime lead, said:

“Crime involving knives remains a growing issue on the national stage, so the Constabulary’s participation in Sceptre is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight the outstanding work our officers put in daily to keep Cheshire weapon-free.

“We are particularly proud that, when compared to our fellow home forces, knife crime in Cheshire remains low; but we have seen a considerable number of people across the county choosing to carry knives and bladed weapons - this is something we will not tolerate as a force.

“In this, the first of two Sceptre operations for 2025, our officers will be engaging with the county’s retailers who have a crucial role to play in ensuring these potentially dangerous and lethal weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.

“As well as this, we are further intensifying our efforts to challenge the perception that you need to carry a knife in order to feel safe. When someone chooses to carry a knife, it is only a matter of time before they, or someone else, sustains a life-changing or fatal injury. If you choose to carry a knife, you are much more likely to be involved in knife crime.

“When it comes to issues as serious as knife crime, it is so important that everyone feels that they can come forward to us with any issues, so we can take swift and immediate action, so, over the course of this week, we will also be working with our partner organisations, including local authorities, charities, third-sector organisations, youth representatives and community groups as we continue to keep Cheshire a hostile environment for anyone who chooses to pick up a blade.”

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife or has been a victim of street robbery can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Information can also be passed to the force online here.