June 14, 2019 - 1084 views
After a number of rare incidents which have recently happened in our locality, North Wales Police have reiterated the importance of tackling knife crime.
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett said “Knife crime is a very real concern for us as it is to every other police force in the country.
"Thankfully here in North Wales, knife crime is not at the level seen in some urban areas, but that doesn’t mean we are complacent about it".
North Wales Police works closely with other agencies to tackle this issue, as this cannot be solved merely through arrests. Operation Sceptre, run jointly with Trading Standards has proved successful in removing many offensive weapons from circulation.
We regularly raise awareness through social media campaigns highlighting the dangers and consequences of carrying knives; our School Liaison Officers have spoken to thousands of local pupils at ‘Knife Crime Assemblies’, and we have issued night clubs with ‘wand detectors’ in order to reassure the public.
Whilst nationally the number of people carrying knives is increasing, nearly 40% of incidents involving knives in north Wales occur in domestic situations.
Encouragingly, the detection rates in North Wales are also improving, so if you choose to carry a knife, you are more likely to be caught.
Knife crime is devastating. If you, your partner, son or daughter carry a knife, they are at risk - at risk of going to prison, at risk of being killed or seriously injured and at risk of having to live with the aftermath of someone's death.
North Wales is one of the safest parts of the UK, and through our relationships with both agencies and the public, we all need to work together to help prevent and stop knife crime, which is a wider community safety challenge.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for serious violence, Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Sebire, said:
“Proactive policing and tactics like intelligence led stop and search, speaking to our local communities, weapons sweeps and effective targeting of habitual knife carriers have played a role in the rising number of offensive weapon offences that are prosecuted.
“Preventing young people from carrying knives is not something that police forces can do alone - it requires schools, charities, the health service and community groups to work together.
"This early intervention plays a vitally important role in stopping young people from getting involved in crime.”
