Op Sceptre week of action launches today

Tackling knife crime is a priority for the Force – and this week we are showcasing that commitment by supporting Op Sceptre, a national week of action to tackle knife crime.

Op Sceptre runs from today (Monday 14 November) until the end of the week, and complements the work Lincolnshire Police carries out year-round to ensure residents are safe from offensive weapons and weapon-enabled crime in their community under the banner Op Raptor. 

During this week, there will be:

• Knife amnesty bins at the front desks of police stations where knives and other offensive weapons can be dropped off with no consequences. They will be disposed of safely. These bins will be placed at:  
  • Boston
  • Skegness
  • Louth
  • Horncastle
  • Spalding
  • Grantham
  • Stamford
  • South Park, Lincoln
• School engagement which will reach 325 young people around the dangers and consequences of knife crime.
• Engagement with those identified as having carried knives in the past, or as potentially likely to in the future. These people will be actively contacted and educated about the dangers and repercussions of knife crime by our Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
• Operational activity to take weapons off the streets
• Action on community intelligence if we receive information about weapons on our streets

Detective Chief Inspector Rachael Cox said: “Knife crime is low in Lincolnshire in comparison to other areas of the country – but we are not complacent, and we understand that education and enforcement can support our goal to keep the county free of violent crime.

"Carrying a knife or other offensive weapon does not protect you. In fact, we know that carrying a knife or other weapon means you are more likely to be hospitalised with an injury caused by violence. There is no ‘safe place’ to stab someone – any stab can be fatal – and the consequences will be just as severe.

"We don’t want you or anyone else to be placed in a dangerous situation because you thought carrying a knife or other offensive weapon was a good idea. It’s not. Knives destroy lives, both yours and those you love.”

The facts:

As well as the physical consequences of being stabbed or slashed, there are serious legal consequences which come hand in hand with carrying a knife:

• You could face up to four years in prison, even if you don't use it.
• You can get a criminal record just for carrying a knife.
• Carrying an offensive weapon is a serious offence and carrying it for self-protection is not a defence.

The law:

The Criminal Justice Act 1988 is the legislation which deals with the law around offensive weapons. It is illegal to have possession of a bladed article in a public place without reasonable excuse. It is also an offence to possess certain items, even in private.

This includes zombie knives, shuriken or death stars, and knuckledusters, and means people can no longer keep them at home. A new legal definition of flick knives, banned since 1959, has also been brought in, resulting in more of these bladed weapons being outlawed.

Anyone possessing one of the above offensive weapons can be sentenced to up to 6 months’ imprisonment or a fine or both.

Help and support:

You don’t have to be involved in knife crime. There is help and support available from Knifefree, a campaign which aims to highlight the consequences of carrying a knife and to inspire young people to pursue positive alternatives.

You can also pass information about knife crime anonymously through Fearless, which is a site where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality, and report crime with 100& anonymity.

Anonymous reporting is also available through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.