Sceptre Week Launches as Police Step Up Efforts to Reduce Knife Crime

A national week of action targeting knife crime has begun today (Monday 17 November), as police forces across the country launch Operation Sceptre — an initiative led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) aimed at removing dangerous weapons from streets and tackling the root causes of serious violence.

Running until Sunday 23 November 2025, the campaign brings together police, local authorities, education providers and community services in a coordinated effort to prevent offending, support young people and strengthen community safety.

In Hampshire, the force has reported a continued fall in knife-related offences, with incidents dropping from 1,035 in the year ending June 2024 to 936 the following year. Officers say the latest figures reinforce the importance of sustained prevention work, alongside enforcement.

Throughout the week, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary will deploy high-visibility patrols in hotspot locations, carry out weapon sweeps, check retailers for compliance with age-restricted sales, and set up knife surrender bins and knife arches. Officers will also visit schools, youth clubs and community venues to challenge myths around knives, encourage safer choices, and build trust with young people.

Inspector James Barton, the force’s tactical lead for knife crime, said the impact of knife violence remains profound.

“Knife crime is devastating for all the lives and communities it impacts,” he said. “It’s a top priority for our Force to tackle knife crime and serious violence. Our efforts over the last year have seen a positive reduction in knife-related offences within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as a direct result.”

He added that the force will not ease off: “We can’t be complacent. There is plenty more work to be done and that is why we support this week of action and will be intensifying our prevention and engagement work across all districts to make our communities safer and to build brighter futures for young people, alongside our neighbourhood enforcement and proactive activity against knife carriers and offending.”

Inspector Barton stressed that policing alone cannot solve the problem.
“It is not possible for policing to address the complex issue of knife crime alone and so we’re working closely with our partners to have a multipronged approach to continue reducing knife-related violence,” he said.

“Sceptre is not just about enforcement where we seize knives and make arrests, but it’s also about education and prevention to get to the root causes and break the cycle of violence. We know it can be worrying to hear about people being injured or killed by knives but carrying a knife yourself doesn’t make you any safer but puts you at greater risk of harm.

“The reality is that very few people carry knives but if someone you know is carrying a knife or involved in serious violence, you can report it to the police, speak to a trusted family member or teacher, or you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers and Fearless. Every knife taken off the streets is a potential life saved.”

Support and information are available through The Ben Kinsella Trust, as well as via StreetSafe — an online tool that allows people to anonymously flag areas where they feel unsafe, helping local policing teams focus prevention activity.

Anyone with concerns about knife crime can contact Crimestoppers or Fearless anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their websites. Police can also be reached on 101 or online, with 999 reserved for emergencies.