MONDAY, November 13, marks the first day of a national week of action by Thames Valley Police to tackle knife crime and violence.
Operation Sceptre sees a week-long push to increase education and early intervention initiatives in the Thames Valley, aiming to stop young people getting involved in crime.
It also sees “strong, proactive” policing to deal with those who carry knives.
In the past 12 months, knife crime has reduced by 4% in the Thames Valley, with 1,186 offences recorded between October 1, 2022, and October 31 this year.
This constitutes a reduction of 55 offences.
The Thames Valley is one of 20 areas with a Violence Reduction Unit, which sees Home Office funding supporting partnerships between local councils, fire, police, health, and education services as well as community organisations.
It also sees funding for a range of early intervention projects, including support offered to those in A&E and police custody, one-to-one mentoring in schools, and improving access to education packages and sports programs.
As well as its community initiatives, TVP has also established a new mobile app which sees officers deployed to identified hotspot areas, increasing visibility during peak times and aiming to deter further crime.
The initiative saw an additional 23,000 patrols across nearly 100 hotspots in the Thames Valley in the past 12 months.
Alongside Stop & Search and operations within the night-time economy, it forms part of the force’s high-priority response to knife-crime, which targets known carriers of knives and those engaged in related crime, such as drug-dealing.
Knife amnesty bins are permanently installed in a number of spots across Thames Valley, which were promoted further as part of Operation Sceptre.
Back in May, a sculpture was unveiled in Reading town centre created by Stuart Melrose, who built the piece using blades handed into amnesty bins across Reading and the Thames Valley.
The statute, called the Armoured Heart, is designed to inspire younger residents to make positive choices around knives, funded through grants received from GWR’s Community Fund, the British Airways community fund, the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit, and community donations.
Jules Bottazzi, head of the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit, said: “Tackling knife crime and creating safer communities is a shared priority and the Violence Reduction Unit provides leadership and coordination as all our partners work together.
“Our approach recognises that we need to place equal importance on education and preventing those vulnerable to crime getting involved in the first place.”
They explained: “Operation Sceptre allows us to raise awareness of this important work and we ask all our communities to join us–we need parents, community leaders, young people, to work together so that we tackle the fear, provide trusted role models, encourage young people to ask for help and turn away from violence or carrying a knife.
“If you are worried, talk to someone, anyone you trust. Because carrying a knife is never going to make you safer.”
Superintendent Lewis Prescott-Mayling, force strategic lead for violence reduction, Thames Valley Police, said: “Knife crime and violence reduction are a priority for Thames Valley Police and the latest results show that our approach is having an effect, with knife crime continuing to fall over the force area.
“Thankfully, knife crime remains low–however, we continue to see tragic and shocking incidents across the region, too often with young lives lost or ruined forever. Any incident is one too many.
“While our partners deliver education and prevention, the police continue to take action against those who carry knives or think violence is acceptable and our officers provide a high visibility presence throughout our communities.”
He explained: “Knife amnesty bins are always available, providing an opportunity to dispose of a weapon – no questions asked. If you have a weapon – maybe you thought it may protect you – get rid of it.
“Finally, if you are worried, or have any information – we urge you to contact the police or if you do not wish to speak to us, report to Fearless.org without having to give your name. You may just save a life.”
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If you have any information concerning someone who may carry a knife – contact the police by calling 101, or if it is an emergency call 999.
More information is available via the Thames Valley Police website.
If you do not want to speak to the police, you can contact Crimestoppers, an anonymous service allowing you to leave information without giving your name or being contacted by the police.
Knife amnesty bins are located across the force area allowing any weapon or prohibited item to be disposed of without any contact with police officers, no questions asked.
In Reading, bins have been installed in Waitrose Car Park in Caversham, Cintra Park, Coley Park Community Centre, Kensington Park, Orts Road, and Tilehurst Triangle, as well as Reading Police Station.
