The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Lincolnshire Police is taking part in a nationwide campaign highlighting issues around knife crime.
Operation Sceptre is part of a week of action across the country.
In the county, police have provided knife bins at the front desks of police stations in South Park in Lincoln, Boston, and Sleaford to be dropped off with no consequences, where they will be disposed of safely.
There will also be school talks to educate young people around the dangers and consequences of knife crime and those identified as having carried knives in the past, or as potentially likely to in the future will also be actively contacted and educated about the dangers and repercussions of knife crime by Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
Mobile digital screens will be out in populated spots across the East of the county with educational knife crime messages.
A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “Knife crime is low in Lincolnshire – but we are not complacent, and we understand that education and enforcement can support our goal to keep the county free of violent crime.
“That is why we are taking part in Operation Sceptre this week. Op Sceptre is a national campaign which takes place twice a year, supporting 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.
“So far this year, there have been 42 offences for possession of an offensive weapon, and a further 146 public order offences which intimated, referenced or involved an offensive weapon.
“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.
“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 and carrying an offensive weapon is a serious offence with self-protection not a defence.
“We use a wide range of tactics to identify if someone may be in possession of a weapon. This includes the use of some methods that you will have seen, such as CCTV, drug detection dogs and warrants, and others that you won’t.
“If we get information that people are carrying a weapon, or even if they possess an offensive weapon in the privacy of their own home, we will intercept them, we will stop them and we will take that weapon off them. They will feel the full force of the law.
“But this on its own won’t tackle the problem. Ending knife crime is a community effort – from parents and guardians, teachers, family friends, and charities, to young people and their peers, local businesses, British Transport Police and other agencies – coming together to understand what is driving violent crime and how to deter it.
“We want Lincolnshire to be the safest place to live work and visit, and tackling violent crime which involves offensive weapons together will help us achieve this goal.”
