It’s that time of the year when police forces around the country, including Wiltshire Police, promote the ongoing work we do to raise awareness of knife crime under the banner of Operation Sceptre.

The initiative aims to reduce and prevent the illegal use of knives which can lead to serious injuries and, in some tragic cases, a person being killed.

It’s a vital campaign needed now more than ever.

The latest statistics for Wiltshire show that although incidents where a knife has been used decreased between June 2021 and June 2022, down six per cent, we’ve seen a 48 per cent rise in the number of crimes where someone has been in possession of a knife during the same period.

We continue to work to try and reduce these figures.

My officers and staff are out every day protecting the public and trying to prevent knife incidents - not just during Op Sceptre.

What does that look like?

Well, it’s the response to the 999 or101 calls, patrols of hot-spot areas and, as was recently publicised following the shocking stabbing of a 14-year-old by boys of a similar age near Swindon’s Link Centre, the option of introducing temporary Section 60 orders allowing officers to stop and search people even if they’re not under suspicion.

Equally important is the work done with schools, colleges and youth groups to educate young people about the dangers of knives.

We work closely with local authorities, public health, youth workers and charities to engage with those young people to help them understand that by carrying a knife you have more chance of being hurt yourself.

My officers and staff also regularly communicate, via schools, with parents, guardians and carers.

We will continue to use every tactic available to reduce the number of knife attacks on our streets but we cannot do this alone.

We need your help. Information from the public gives us the vital intelligence to tackle these crimes. We need our communities more than ever to pull together and support the police in giving evidence about those who carry bladed weapons.

Anyone with any information can contact us on 101, through our website or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.