Sussex Police is highlighting its ongoing activities in tackling knife crime and violence as part of the national week-long campaign.

Operation Sceptre is set to bolster the work done by Sussex Police throughout the year in its bid to keep residents safe from knife-related harm.

“Sussex is a safe place to live, although in line with national trends Sussex has seen an increase in knife crime,” a spokesman for Sussex Police said this week. 

Statistics show that 99 per cent of ten to 29 year olds do not carry a knife. However, bringing violence and knife crime down is a top priority and Sussex Police is determined to get knives off the streets for good it says.

Operation Sceptre is a campaign that aims to tackle the danger that knife crime poses by educating those most at risk and carrying out proactive work that takes knives off our streets.  

“It is a misconception that carrying a knife makes you safer,” the police spokesman told Hastings In Focus. “Carrying a knife for protection is not a defence in law and even being caught with someone carrying can result in a sentence if you are caught,” they said. 

Superintendent Stu Hale says: “Knives and dangerous weapons have no place on the streets of Sussex. We are determined to reduce the risk of knife-related harm by working together and making our message on knife possession crystal clear.

“Operation Sceptre is an opportunity to discuss knife crime in an open and honest way. We want to send the message to young people that carrying a knife is dangerous and can have serious consequences. Carrying a knife does not make you safer, in fact it puts you at more risk of being a victim.

“Addressing the root causes of knife crime is essential in tackling it. This is why we’re combining educational activities and amnesty with targeted, intelligence-led operations to both raise awareness among at-risk groups and disrupt crime in action.   

“We have year-round operations to address knife crime including engaging with young people in schools, the launch of our knife crime engagement van and work with partners to ensure people are signposted to help at an early opportunity. 

“We also work hard to target disrupt prolific offenders, through the Tactical Enforcement Unit and are intensifying our activities through days of action  – which means individuals carrying knives are increasingly likely to be caught and prosecuted.

“This anti-knife week is also a crucial reminder that there is help out there for those who do not feel safe.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “Sussex Police remain steadfast in their commitment to taking prolific offenders off our streets, preventing knife crime and tackling serious violence.

“Operation Sceptre is a great opportunity to take the time to educate our young people of the dangers and life changing consequences of carrying a knife before it’s too late.  

“Please remember that all knives can kill and maim and just by carrying one you are putting yourself and others in grave danger. The message is clear – lose the knife not a life.”

To tell Sussex Police about knife crime please report online or call 101, we will treat information you give us sensitively. In an emergency always dial 999.

To report knife crime anonymously, go to https://www.fearless.org/en/give-info