Tackling serious violence, making the streets of Wiltshire safer and educating young people to steer them away from knife crime are the main focuses of a week of intensified operational activity.
This week marks Sceptre – a national initiative which actively aims to tackle knife crime and related serious violence including weapon sweeps, surrender bins, deployment of knife arches and educational inputs into schools across the county.
It also coincides with Knife Crime Awareness Week, a campaign launched by charities The Ben Kinsella Trust and Axon.
Wiltshire remains one of the safest counties in the UK, with knife crime incidents declining by 19% year-on-year, totalling 254 cases as of September 2024. The county also recorded an 8% reduction in knife crime in the year ending March 2024, equating to 26 fewer incidents compared to the previous year.
However, 1,400 young people surveyed by the Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Commission stressed the need for more education on knife crime and greater awareness of the law.
New research has now shown that 83% of 16–24-year-olds questioned said that, despite legislation aimed at making purchasing knives more difficult, they believed young people would find alternative ways to buy them, while 72% said the law focused on the symptoms rather than the causes of knife crime.
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: "It is clear to me that education plays a vital role in tackling this issue at the source. Wiltshire may statistically have some of the lowest levels of knife crime in the country, and while our officers are doing great work to get knives off the streets in Wiltshire, more needs to be done to make sure people can actually feel safe in their communities.
“Earlier this year I showed my support of the introduction of Ronan’s Law, part of the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill which builds on an ongoing commitment to tackling knife crime across the country, as well as introducing tougher restrictions on the sale and possession of dangerous weapons.
"But it is ultimately through the work of Wiltshire Police’s early intervention teams, and other commissioned services and partner agencies, that we will be able to effectively deal with knife crime as a society. Knife crime not only ruins the lives of victims and their families but also of the perpetrators, who, in the majority of cases, are young.
“The Police and law enforcement agencies have their part to play in stopping knife crime but my office and other bodies have to intervene earlier where necessary, to make sure that we are providing positive alternatives and opportunities to those who are at risk and vulnerable to being targeted and drawn in."
Head of Local Policing, Chief Superintendent Doug Downing, said: “Over the past 18 months, we have seen reported knife crime reduce significantly, which is testament to the hard work that we have been doing with our partner agencies and charities across both Swindon and the wider county.
"Of course, we recognise that this is just one measure and a critical component is that our communities feel safe, something we will always strive to achieve.
“Tackling violence and reducing the levels of knife crime – often among young people – has been a key priority for the Force over the past 18 months, as we know each incident can mean a life ended or irrevocably changed.
“We recognise, however, that these numbers are still too high. Too many people continue to carry knives, often for the mistaken belief that it will protect them.
“We know this isn’t the case and that carrying a knife makes you much more likely to be a victim of knife crime.
“We also appreciate that these figures are not necessarily reflective of the public’s perception of violence and knife crime within our communities.
“Sceptre is an opportunity for us to highlight much of the educational work that we are doing on knife crime in our communities, but it’s important to stress that this work happens all year round.”
Since October 2023, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has funded a series of “Blunt Truth” workshops across schools in Wiltshire and Swindon via its Serious Violence Duty.
These workshops, delivered by NHS professionals and police officers, educate Year 9 students about the dangers of carrying a knife and what to do if they or someone they know is involved in an incident.
Additionally, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) participated in a Youth Safety Summit in Swindon, where council leaders, health professionals, criminal justice representatives, and members of the Youth Commission discussed key issues facing young people, including knife crime.
Mr Wilkinson added: “While the majority of young people won’t be directly involved in knife crime, these workshops equip them with the knowledge to make the right choices and, crucially, report concerns if they suspect someone is carrying a weapon.
“Hearing directly from A&E specialists who treat young stabbing victims has a profound impact, reinforcing why investing in prevention and education is so important.”
To find out more about how the OPCC is tackling knife crime and related serious violence, visit the OPCC website.
