More Than 150 Weapons Seized In Week Of Action To Combat Knife Crime

Friday November 25, 2023

More than 150 knives have been seized from the streets and 60 arrests made in a week of action to reduce knife and violent crime in West Yorkshire

Officers from across West Yorkshire Police joined the force's dedicated Operation Jemlock knife and violent crime reduction unit in taking part in a whole range of enforcement and crime prevention work for November's national Operation Sceptre.

During the latest activity, officers seized in excess of 163 knives and made 60 arrests for offending including knife possession.

Fifty six weapons sweeps were conducted across the force area including in Kirklees, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield.

Special knife arches were also deployed at bus stations at busy times to both reassure passengers and deter any persons tempted to carry weapons onto public transport.

Notable weapons seizures included the recovery of machetes and hammers from a vehicle on Beck Hill in Buttershaw on November 15.

Weapons recovered in Buttershaw

Officers recovered the vehicle and weapons and are continuing enquiries.

More than fifty schools across West Yorkshire were also visited as part of a continuing drive to educate tens of thousands of young people about the tragic consequences they could face by becoming involved in knife crime.

Police operations to reduce knife offending also continue to be supported by partners, including the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), which is delivered by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.

Established in 2019, it provides key interventions across communities to reduce and prevent violent offending. Since March 2023 alone, it has worked with 47 separate organisations, supporting in excess of 4100 young people under the age of 25.

Figures show that knife offences for 2022/23 financial year were four per cent lower overall than in 2021-2022, and eight per cent down in cases involving under 25's.

This means there were 102 less victims of overall knife crime and 73 fewer victims under the age of 25.

Chief Inspector James Kitchen, head of Operation Jemlock, said: "Work to combat knife crime continues 365 days of the year in West Yorkshire, but Operation Sceptre remains a key week for police forces to raise awareness of the dreadful consequences of carrying bladed weapons.

"This November's activity has seen us recover 150 bladed weapons and make 60 arrests for offences including possession of illegal weapons.

"OI equal if not greater importance, however has been the large number of knife crime inputs in schools.

"Reaching young people and attempting to change the culture of carrying knives is the only long term solution for us to break the cycle of knife violence, and it is the reason the force and VRP continue to invest so heavily in this area.

"Action from parents, friends, communities and partners at all levels continues to be absolutely vital if we are to succeed at driving home one key message. Namely, that if you carry a knife, you are likely to become a victim of one."

"if you know someone who carries a knife, speak with them, speak to others and report it. If you are a friend it might just save their life or that of another"

Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), Det Ch Supt Lee Berry added:

"One more knife off the street is potentially another life saved, and whilst this latest activity offers a window into our proactive partnership efforts, the work continues day in, day out.

"Tackling serious violence requires a community-wide response, involving both preventative and enforcement approaches.

"That's why we have launched a series of social media videos aimed at reaching both young people and parents or carers, helping to change attitudes and behaviours around knife carrying."