Police forces across the South are getting behind national knife crime awareness week

Tuesday, 12 November 2024 12:43

They’re taking part in targeted patrols, supporting efforts to take knives off the streets and helping to keep communities safe.

In Sussex, the campaign this week is being supported by Martin Cosser, father of Charlie Cosser, who was fatally stabbed at a party near Horsham in July last year.

Sussex Police’s force lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime Chief Inspector Jim Loader said: “Today marks the start of Operation Sceptre, a national week of action to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives and to showcase our ongoing work with partners to keep people safe.

“Sussex is a safe place, with knife crime related incidents well below the national average by area. But we know that one knife being carried on the street is one too many, and it can result in lives being devastated.

“We will have further engagement and enforcement activities taking place across Sussex. We are committed to reducing the number of weapons on the streets, and Sceptre highlights the year-round efforts to reduce the number of people carrying knives, as well as the interventions in place to steer people away from this lifestyle.”

In the previous campaign in May, more than 550 weapons were removed from the streets in Sussex. Officers visited schools, colleges and universities to speak with young people, as well as further engagement work in the community. Police also visited retailers to ensure the Challenge 25 scheme was in force.

In September, the law changed on the possession and carrying of zombie-style knives and machetes. The new law has come into effect which makes it illegal to possess these items in a private place as well as the sale, manufacture, and transport of these dangerous weapons, marking a major step forward in making our communities safer.

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