Police week of action yields positive results

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Police week of action yields positive results

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Last week (11-17 November), Merseyside Police took part in an intensified week of action aimed at reducing and preventing knife crime.

The week of action focused on knife-enabled robbery, to reduce the impact this high-harm crime has on local communities.

A number of proactive operations took place, including stop searches, weapons sweeps, search warrants and knife detection arches deployed. The week of intense activity resulted in:

• 53 knives seized
• 20 arrests for knife-related crime
• 34 stop and searches
• 2 search warrants executed
• 14 retailers visited as part of a knife test purchase operation
• 12 bike marking events

Test purchase operations were carried out at various stores across Merseyside to spot check age compliance for the sale of knives, with the support of Merseyside's Police Cadets. Of the 14 retail premises visited, 13 challenged the underage Cadets for identification before refusing to sell the items. The retailer which failed was given advice to ensure future compliance, will undergo a review of its underage sales policies and be subject to further test purchases.

Alongside checks at physical stores, the force continued to proactively investigate the sale of weapons online, targeting online vendors. Two 18-year-old males from Bidston and Ellesmere Port were arrested on suspicion of online weapon offences following two warrants by the County Lines team.

The Roads Policing Unit carried out an operation to proactively target drivers who are subject to a Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO). The court can grant a SVRO when an adult, aged 18 or over, is convicted of an offence involving a bladed article or offensive weapon. Two people were arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article.

The Matrix bike team patrolled several locations, including the Liverpool Loop Line, to disrupt those responsible for bike thefts and knife-enabled robberies of high value bikes.

During the week, officers also held 12 free bike marking events across Merseyside and checked 59 pedal and E-bikes during patrols, to see if a bike had been reported as lost or stolen.

Through the #kNOwKNifeCrime campaign, free KnifeSavers bleed control kits, alongside innovative digital training, was provided to every secondary school across the Liverpool City Region. The Force's Safer Schools Team supported this important event which also educated young people about the dangers of weapons.

The twice-yearly operation involves all 43 police forces in England and Wales and British Transport Police and builds on the prevention and enforcement work police carry out all year round to combat knife crime.

Superintendent Phil Mullally, Lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime said: "The results from this week of action hopefully show the public a snapshot of what our officers are doing daily to tackle knife crime and robbery.

"Tackling violence is a year-round focus for the force - we are working day and night to protect our communities through targeted foot patrols, test purchase operations, knife arches, search warrants and a range of police powers such as Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs).

"We remain focused on dealing with the accessibility of intimidating weapons and targeting those who are selling weapons online. The two warrants executed show that we are proactively seizing knives and making arrests based on thorough investigations and intelligence.

"This enforcement work goes hand in hand with prevention and working with the likes of the Violence Reduction Partnership, Safer Schools Team and community organisations. Just this week we have engaged with more than 3,000 young people in a new knife crime project aimed at early intervention and education.

"I would also encourage the public to support us and tell us who is carrying, using, or storing knives or weapons. Please come forward so we can continue to disrupt offenders and bring them to justice."

Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: "Once again, Sceptre shows that the vast majority of good people across Merseyside are working with police to help tackle knife crime by handing in potentially dangerous weapons, preventing them from ending up on the streets and reducing the risk of them being used to cause harm.

"I'm also encouraged to hear that thirteen out of fourteen retailers refused to sell knives to underage customers during test purchases and the one who didn't is acting on advice and carrying out a review of their underage sales policies.

"Preventing and tackling knife crime is a priority all year round for Merseyside Police, our Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) and the organisations we work with, which is why we have invested significant resources into tackling violent crime as well as educating on the consequences of carrying a knife and this remains an ongoing priority for all of us.

"Whilst Merseyside Police take robust action against those who arm themselves, they cannot do it alone and that's why prevention is at the heart of all our work. Our MVRP uses a public health approach when it comes to interventions to try and prevent incidents in the future, particularly through educational schemes. This includes KnifeSavers, which sees local trauma surgeons work with young people to bring home the realities of using a knife, and our Mentors in Violence programme which sees young people empowered to try and prevent violence.

"Innovative initiatives like these are critical to the work we are doing to reduce the likelihood of incidents from happening, preventing harm by keeping offensive weapons from falling into the wrong hands."

If you have information about someone carrying a knife, or know someone involved in crime, you can report any concerns on 999 if a crime is in progress, via 101, or our social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC.

You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org.

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