Dorset Police is strengthening its efforts to tackle knife crime and educate the public on its dangers during a week of national action.
The Force is taking part in the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Sceptre campaign, which runs from Monday 17 November to Sunday 23 November.
Knife arches will be used during public engagement events in Bournemouth and Weymouth town centres, while thousands of children across Dorset will receive educational presentations about the risks of carrying knives.
Knife surrender bins are also available at Bournemouth and Weymouth police stations for anyone wishing to hand in knives safely and anonymously during the week. Officers will also carry out weapon sweeps at identified hotspots.
Detective Superintendent Andy Bell said Dorset remains one of the safest counties in the country, with knife crime levels among the lowest nationwide. “One person carrying a knife is one too many,” he said. “We will relentlessly strive to remove knives from our streets and pursue those who choose to carry them.”
He added that school presentations play a key role in prevention, helping to dispel the misconception that carrying a knife makes someone safer.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said prevention and education are essential in reducing harm. He praised Dorset Police’s work in reaching thousands of school students and taking visible action in the community, saying: “Every young person we steer away from violence, every knife removed from our streets, and every life saved truly matters.”
Anyone with concerns about knife carrying can report it to Dorset Police online or anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.
The Sceptre campaign is coordinated nationally to target knife crime through prevention, enforcement and education.
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