Responsible retailers and public awareness are key to knife safety

Devon & Cornwall Police took part in the national Sceptre knife safety campaign last week.. It ran from Monday 17 to Sunday 24 November 2025 and is part of the wider national strategy to remove dangerous weapons from the streets and keep communities safe. 

Devon & Cornwall Police took part in the national ‘Sceptre’ knife safety campaign last week, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). It ran from Monday 17 to Sunday 24 November 2025 and is part of the wider national strategy to remove dangerous weapons from the streets and keep communities safe. 

The guiding theme was ensuring that bricks and mortar retailers are following the appropriate guidelines for knife sales.

During the campaign, police officers and police cadets carried out a number of activities, including test purchases and visits to businesses, across the region.

Raising public awareness was also an important element of the campaign and so weapons sweeps and community and schools engagement were also carried out.  Well over 1500 students received educational inputs around the dangers of carrying knives.

Only one shop failed the test purchase exercise and was given guidance in relation to its knife selling policy.

Knife bins were available across the Force area to enable people to surrender knives.

A total of 46 knives were taken off the streets during the operation.

DCI Steve Fleetwood, Force Knife Crime Lead for Devon & Cornwall Police said, “The theme for the week was around educating knife retailers and educating the public about the potential harm from knife carrying and knife crime.  We engaged with a number of retailers, including carrying out test purchases using young people aged under 18. 

“We also had teams out and about engaging with communities and schools, providing information to the public and answering any queries the public had. We use electronic scanning knife arches which were a great way to encourage a conversation about the dangers of knives.

“I’m so proud of the work we do, not just during weeks of intensification, but throughout the year to raise awareness around knife crime.

“I am also delighted to use this opportunity not only to publicise the fantastic work that has taken place during the intensification week, but to draw attention to the fact that over the last 12 months our data shows that knife carrying offences are down 12.2% and knife harm offences down 8.8%. This is indicative of the efforts going into preventative engagement all year round and not just during intensification weeks”.

“We will continue to use every available resource to combat knife crime and keep our communities safe.”

Devon & Cornwall Police has recently launched a new website called Not The One specifically around knife crime.  It provides information and advice for young people, parents/carers and teachers (including lesson plans). 

www.dc.Nottheone.co.uk

Knife surrender bins are permanently situated in local police stations across the region so that the public can surrender knives safely and discreetly at any time. Information about where knife surrender bins can be found at: dc.police.uk/peo.

If anyone has concerns about someone they know who carries a knife, or about knife crime in their community, we encourage them to report it to us at www.dc.police.uk/tua

People can report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555111. Your information could help save a life.

Retailers can visit this website for guidance on selling knives: Training for storage, display, sale and delivery of knives 

To report a place where you don’t feel safe visit the StreetSafe web page.

 www.fearless.org   – for young people to report someone anonymously.