Bolton police as Operation Sceptre launched to fight knife crime

Police Inspector Jon Ezard spoke as Operation Sceptre was launched in Bolton.

The nationwide operation he nationwide operation is designed to crack down on violent crime, with a particular focus on knife violence and knifepoint robberies.

Insp Ezard said the operation was vital for getting messages out there about knife crime as well as tackling it.

During the operation, amnesty bins were also provided for people to dispose of knives.

@theboltonnews This week, Greater Manchester Police have launched Sceptre week. The operation is to tackle knife crime on the streets of #bolton ♬ original sound - The Bolton News

The inspector said that children who carry knives for 'protection' are especially vulnerable to its consequences  - and added that work was taking place to make the town centre's night economy safer for people of all ages to enjoy.

He said: “Most of the children we speak to say that they have to carry the knives for protection, but from statistics you’re more likely to be injured by your own knife, which makes carrying just as dangerous.

“It’s a split-second decision that could change your life or someone else’s. We need the community to work together to tackle this issue. We need parents to talk to young people and tell them not to carry these weapons.

"If you’re aware of someone carrying weapons, tell a trusted friend, a teacher or you can report it to the police anonymously. It might just be about putting measures in place and re-educating that person.”

Despite the ban on zombie knives, young people are still able to access these weapons both online and offline, which is also something that the force is looking into, Insp Ezard added: “We’ve also been carrying out test purchase operations officers from our knife crime team, Operation Venture, who visited several independent hardware shops around North Manchester to test purchase again whether they could obtain knives illegally."

He added: “During this activity, two shops were revisited after failing in September and this time thankfully passed the test purchase.

“By doing hotspot patrolling we’ve made a total of 716 arrests in the past two years and managed to retrieve 202 weapons from the streets.”

(Image: Leah Collins) The inspector added: “We also see violence playing into the night time economy in Bolton, which is why we conduct lots of targeted operations to reduce knife crime and robbery across this area and make the night time economy a safer environment.”

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(Image: Leah Collins) Officers with Operation Venture are working with the whole force and involved coordinated activities with neighbouring forces, schools, local authorities, and community organisations to address issues related to knife-related violence and the illegal possession of knives. 

(Image: Leah Collins)

Whilst knife crime remains a significant threat, within Greater Manchester results show it has stabilised.

There are around 400 incidents a month relating to knife crime, with a quarter directly linked to using a knife as part of a personal robbery. This has seen a slight decrease, from over 100 incidents a month to around 97, over the last 12 months and as a proportion of total knife crime this is also reducing.

Solved rates are higher than usual for knifepoint robberies at 11.5 per cent compared to that of just personal robbery at 9.8 per cent.

(Image: Leah Collins)

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities said: "I am pleased to reiterate my support for Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Operation Venture team in their efforts to reduce knife crime, bringing those who carry knives to justice and work to prevent people from carrying them in the first place.

"Our Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) commissions programmes and interventions across our city-region to ensure we have a holistic approach to preventing and tackling knife crime and violence affecting young people, by working closely with partners like GMP.

"By building trust with young people and providing access to local support networks, they help to reduce the potential of further violence.

(Image: Leah Collins) "It is also important that our approach to reducing knife crime includes a community-led approach, which puts power and decision making in the hands of local people, empowering them to identify local priorities and the types of interventions they would like to see delivered in their community.

“For instance, all our Greater Manchester boroughs now have a community alliance in place funded by the VRU, providing free activities for young people to access, ranging from arts, community sports and youth work to mentoring and work in schools, ensuring there are positive options for young people to engage with.

"It is key that these examples of partnership working continue to help keep all of our residents safe."

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Edwards from the force’s Violence Reduction Unit and part of Operation Venture said: “This week of intense activity is all part of our commitment to reducing knife crime and in particular knife-enabled robbery which is a key element in tackling violence.

“We are working day and night to protect our communities and to tackle this highly traumatic crime which is focused on targeting people on their own looking for usually cash, mobile phones and bags.

“Not just this week, but every day we know knife crime isn’t just down to enforcement with our team embedded into prevention work and linking in extremely closely with the Violence Reduction Unit that makes sure we address the underlying causes.

“Carrying a knife puts your life and the lives of others at risk and our specialised team and officers from across the force are actively targeting those involved in knife crime at there are no positives to carrying a knife.

“We know not every young person carries a knife, but we encourage parents, guardians and extended family members to talk to young members of your family about knife crime. Help raise awareness on how to recognise the signs of knife crime and encourage them to think about the consequences.”

Got a story? Email me at Leah.Collins@newsquest.co.uk