How we used week of action to show our commitment to tackling knife crime

People often ask us, what are your priorities and what are you focusing on?

One of the issues we focus on all year round is knife crime.

We took part in Sceptre week recently – a national spotlight on the work in policing to tackle this vital issue.

It’s a chance to show you a snapshot of the work we’re doing.

Part of that work is enforcement.

That week alone, we:

• Carried out 41 stop searches for drugs or weapons – four where a knife was found and seized.
• Utilised our cadets to complete 62 test purchases at businesses selling knives.
• 25 businesses failed these checks, emphasising the importance of this activity.
• Made six knife-related arrests.
• Conducted 22 sweeps or searches for knives across the county.
• Dedicated numerous patrols to hotspot areas.

We know we also have to focus on the causes of knife crime, educating young people and working with partners elsewhere across the criminal justice system and social care.

During the week we also:

• Engaged with around 2,000 young people across schools, colleges and universities.
• Our partners with the Violence and Vulnerability Unit’s ReRoute team carried out 16 visits with young people caught up in knife-related offending.
• Education officers delivered 23 dedicated knife crime sessions across 14 schools.
• Emptied thousands of knives from our dedicated knife surrender bins – each one a weapon safely removed from circulation.

Work like this means we continue to see a reduction in knife-enabled crime in Essex – 10% fewer offences year-on-year to be exact, and a 17% reduction when compared with pre-pandemic figures (2019).

Detective Inspector Tanya Steele said:

“We strike an important balance in Essex, in recognising knife crime as an absolutely vital issue that matters a great deal to our neighbourhoods.
“But we’re also acknowledging it’s usually linked to wider offending like drug crime.
“It’s an issue often linked to other factors and a younger demographic caught up in a range of complex issues or criminality.
“This is why we focus just as much, if not more, on what we can do to work with young people who carry knives – understanding why they do this, helping partners to build a relationship and bring about a change in behaviour.
“Education, helping young people understand the reality and risks associated with carrying a knife – this is work we undertake all year.
“Together with that, we are utilising stop and search as a tactic, targeting repeat offenders and pursuing charges against them and carrying out patrols in areas we know have a higher volume of knife-related offences.
“The fact does remain: The average member of the public is very unlikely to fall victim to knife crime in Essex, and it’s important to remember that.”

Are you worried that a friend or someone you know may be being exploited through County Lines or organised criminal activity?

Maybe they are returning home late, staying out all night or even going missing for days or weeks at a time.

Are they suddenly being secretive about who they are talking to or where they are going?

Or perhaps you’ve noticed they have large amounts of money on them, or new clothing, jewellery or phones they wouldn’t be able to afford.

Through Fearless, young people can pass on information 100% anonymously to get help.

If you need help from police, call 101 or, if it's an emergency, always call 999.