By Conor de Smith
Leicestershire Police are continuing their fight against knife crime after a recent rise in serious crimes involving weapons.
The police are taking part in the nationwide #OpSceptre campaign that aims to tackle knife crime.
It was announced that 11 knife-related arrests were made on Monday and three knives were also recovered. Two stop and searches were completed as well as a quantity of drugs being seized.
A great start to #OpSceptre, here's a summary of our activities yesterday:
11 x Knife related arrests made
3 x Knives recovered
1 x Quantity of drugs
2 x Stop & SearchThese are the 3 knives recovered. These could have caused serious injury or worse if used. #LivesNotKnives pic.twitter.com/ZJsAsObZIL
— Leicestershire Police (@leicspolice) February 13, 2018
Home Office figures show that Leicestershire Police recorded 492 serious crimes involving the use of weapons in the year to March 2017.
In the previous year, the total was 394. Over the previous five years, going back to 2010/2011, the average was 435 offences.
A statement on the Leicestershire Police’s official website states: ”One injury caused by a knife is one too many. We, and our partners, are determined to educate people that the carrying of a knife in a public place is totally unacceptable.”
They are conducting high visibility patrols in places where intelligence suggests that people may be carrying or using knives illegally.
Weapon sweeps continue to take place across the county searching for hidden or discarded knives.
If you wish to report someone carrying a knife, you can contact Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111.
