More than 100 knives surrendered during Hertfordshire knife amnesty

More than 100 knives have been surrendered in Hertfordshire during the latest Sceptre week of action against knife crime, which concluded on Sunday 19 May.

 

St Albans Market

A knife amnesty began on Monday 13 May and was part of the week of action to address knife crime and reduce the number of illegal knives in circulation. The regular weeks of action provide a great opportunity to raise awareness and give advice about the risks of carrying a knife in public.

During the week 104 knives were surrendered across the county. Other activities carried out during the campaign included engagement events with young people in schools and public areas and visits to retailers to ensure they are adhering to laws regarding knife sales to those aged under 18. Knife detection operations, including covert and high visibility patrols and knife searches in public areas were also conducted at locations across Hertfordshire.

The constabulary’s Child Criminal Exploitation Prevention and Diversion Team were also out working with students across the county, presenting interactive workshops using virtual reality headsets! The headset software placed the students in gang and knife crime scenarios, where they had to choose from multiple decisions which lead to positive or negative outcomes depending on their choices.

Inspector Nicki Dean, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Community Safety team who led the campaign, said: “There is always a great response from local residents during our weeks of action and we always get lots of positive feedback from all the young people we speak to.

“As part of our activities we conducted survey to understand local people’s views on knife crime. More than 1200 people completed the survey and as part of our Prevention First approach we’ll digest the feedback and use it to develop our plans to further force down knife possession and associated crime in Hertfordshire. We are constantly working with our young people in schools and colleges to help them make positive life choices, so they understand the dangers knives pose, as well as ensuring that knives are not readily available, whether online, in shops or passed around in the community.”   

If you would like further information on support services relating to knife crime contact: Fearless.org.

You can report information about knife crime online or speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form.