WEST Yorkshire Police is intensifying efforts to tackle knife crime as part of a national week of action. 

Operation Sceptre will look at key themes such as prevention and education, and officers will carry out targeted operations alongside partner agencies.

Operation Sceptre brings a nationwide focus to knife crime and with coronavirus restrictions easing, it’s more important than ever that forces are brought together to remind the public that police are targeting serious violence. 

The week of action will give forces the opportunity to build on existing activity, highlighting at a national level the key prevention and engagement work taking place locally.

Police will again partner with Border Force nationally to monitor attempts to import weapons and will also work locally with schools and community members offering engagement and prevention advice to young people.

Early intervention remains a key part as forces look to identify and tackle the root causes of knife crime, with an aim of discouraging young people from carrying knives.

Police continue to work closely with retailers and Trading Standards, including retailers that operate online, to ensure weapons are kept off our streets.

Chief Inspector James Kitchen is from WYP’s Operation Jemlock team which is the force’s response to serious and violent crime (including knife crime) and has been running since April 2019.

“Knife crime is something we treat incredibly seriously – it has a terrible impact on the communities we serve.

“Our work to tackle knife crime remains ongoing through Operation Jemlock.

"We will work with individuals and communities to tackle the causes of why people feel the need to carry a knife.

"We will continue to be proactive and preventative deploying officers into communities to prevent serious violence.

"We will take positive action against those who pose a risk to themselves and others.

"I want to stress there is never a valid reason to carry a knife and if you feel the need to then please speak with someone, but don’t take the knife” 

WYP and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Mark Burns-Williamson, who is also the National Association of PCCs lead for tackling serious violence, added:

“The nature of some of the knife related incidents we have experienced in West Yorkshire over the past few weeks are a stark reminder that the issue of serious violence remains a real challenge for all of us and the devastation it can cause to individuals, families and communities.

“This week of action, dedicated to addressing the serious violence theme, is therefore particularly timely and works in tandem with the ongoing efforts of the dedicated West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and West Yorkshire Police’s Operation Jemlock. 

“It is crucially important that we continue to keep our communities safe and that we are doing everything we can to change behaviours and take weapons off the streets. 

“It is only by constantly and collectively raising awareness and taking appropriate action through early intervention and prevention work that we will be able to most effectively deal with the scourge of knife and violent crime now and in the longer term.”

Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit, Chief Superintendent Jackie Marsh added:

“Policing and law enforcement has a critical role, which this week demonstrates, but as partners, we must intervene at the earliest opportunity to provide positive alternatives.

“This is where the VRU comes in, ensuring we are providing opportunities to those who are at risk or vulnerable to being targeted and drawn into violent crime.

"We are doing vital work, identifying the drivers of serious violence locally, developing a coordinated and targeted response to tackle them in the areas that need it most."

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty, said: “Coronavirus has been a huge part of everyone’s lives for over a year now but we want to remind people that our normal policing role hasn’t stopped during this time.

“Forces are determined to tackle violent crime and with the restrictions easing, taking knives off our streets and helping people understand the dangers of carrying a knife remains a top priority.

“Our work with Border Force, Trading Standards, the Violence Reduction Units and many other partners means we are able to tackle some of the significant underlying causes of knife related violence.

“Operation Sceptre brings forces together and highlights that we will be united in doing everything possible to stop those intent on causing serious violence.”