Sceptre: 15 arrested in police operation to tackle knife crime

Suffolk Police made 15 arrests as part of Sceptre, in a continuing effort to tackle knife crime and ensure the safety of our communities.

The week of action, which ran from Monday 13 May to Sunday 19 May, saw the constabulary intensify its focus on reducing knife crime and serious violence through education, engagement, prevention and enforcement.

During the week of action, officers conducted high-visibility patrols, 16 weapon sweeps and visits to known individuals suspected of carrying knives.

Officers also conducted nine stop searches, with two arrests, both of which were knife-related and two knives were recovered.

These tactics are used year-round.

Amnesty bins, where the public can surrender knife or weapons anonymously, saw 1,283 knives recovered from them.

Working alongside partners, colleges and schools, officers held community engagement events and gave education presentations in schools.

With the support of Trading Standards, officers also made visits to local retailers in efforts to check and ensure the safe and responsible sale of knives, by not selling to Under 18s.

Of the 15 people arrested in Suffolk, the following have been charged:

• Patrick Houghton, aged 49 and of Osborne Street in Lowestoft, was charged on Monday 13 May with threatening a person with a kitchen knife. He appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to the charge and is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday 10 June.
  
  
• Iryna Zarudna, aged 44 and of Heath Road in Ipswich, was charged on Thursday 16 May with possession of a bladed article in a public place. She is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 4 June. 

Acting Inspector Ed Scott said: “Sceptre is not a one-off; enforcement activity and disruption continues throughout the year. The week of action simply allows us to shine a spotlight on the efforts that are carried out day in, day out, to tackle knife crime in Suffolk.

“It is a multi-agency operation and we work closely with partners, education settings, community groups and businesses to address the issue, understand how we can solve the problem and help prevent the number of people injured or killed by a knife.

“Prevention is as important as enforcement. Some young people think that carrying a knife makes them safer, but the opposite is true – carrying a knife can make them more vulnerable. We have been proactive in providing education and engagement opportunities to local schools to discuss these misconceptions and educate them on the consequences of carrying a weapon.

“As always, the public play a vital role in helping to keep knives off our streets. If you know someone is carrying a knife, purchasing one or that someone being exploited to do so, please report it to us so that we can take appropriate action.

“Suffolk Constabulary will continue to take robust action to those who break the law and we remain committed to proactively tackling knife crime and violent offending.”

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I am really pleased to see the Constabulary’s excellent results following this national intensification week to tackle knife crime.

“Sceptre gives the Constabulary an opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and also to tackle the crime with targeted enforcement - I fully support this approach. 

“It is so important we work with schools, businesses and parents as we will only make a difference if we work together.

“Talking about the consequences of carrying a knife – both at home and at school – is so important. As a parent I know how difficult these conversations can be, but I would urge parents and carers to discuss the dangers of knife crime at home. We really do need to continue joining our work to eliminate this dreadful scourge on Suffolk society."

There are nine knife amnesty bins located in Suffolk:

• three in Ipswich (Alderman Park - on the junction of Sir Alf Ramsay Way and Constantine Road, Queen’s Way and Bramford Road)
• at police stations in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Haverhill at the emergency services hub in Mildenhall and in Stowmarket at the junction of Stricklands Road and Ipswich Street