Sussex Police says knife crime across the county has fallen by 24 per cent compared to last year, but officers insist they are “not complacent” as a week of action targeting serious violence gets underway.
Sceptre week highlights the force’s year-round work to tackle knife crime through education, enforcement and prevention.
Sussex Police’s lead for serious violence and knife crime, Chief Inspector Jim Loader, said: “We have worked hard to reduce knife crime across Sussex, with a reduction of 24% with last year. However we are not complacent.
“We are committed to doing all we can to stop weapons getting onto our streets or being used in our homes and to catch the criminals who use knives.”
Police say knife crime devastates not only victims and their families, but entire communities.
As part of Sceptre week, officers will carry out weapons sweeps, targeted patrols, stop and search activity, test purchasing operations, Live Facial Recognition deployments and provide surrender bins for knives to be safely disposed of.
Chief Inspector Loader said education remains a major focus.
“Our focus is on education, with officers spending time in schools talking to children as well as on the streets talking to wider public about the facts.
“We know some young people carry knives because they think they need to keep themselves safe.
“The vast majority of children don't carry a knife. It’s not common place, not everyone is carrying and you don't need to carry one to keep yourself safe.”
A new campaign called “One choice. Two Futures. #KnivesCostLives” is also being launched to encourage young people to think carefully before carrying a weapon.
Sussex has recently been awarded nearly £600,000 from the Home Office’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund to target hotspot areas in Brighton, Crawley and Eastbourne.
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “It’s quite simple really: lose the knife not your life.”
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