More than 2,000 knives were taken off Lancashire’s streets and 201 violence-related arrests made during the dedicated week of action to tackle knife crime and raise awareness of its consequences.
As part of the national Sceptre initiative, Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (VRN) worked with Lancashire Constabulary and other partners to deliver a week-long progamme of activity (19-25 May), combining enforcement, education, and community outreach.
A key focus was placed on preventing illegal knife sales, with 89 stores visited for test purchasing checks. 14 of these retailers failed to meet legal requirements and have now been passed to Lancashire Trading Standards for appropriate action.
As officers targeted known hotspots and carried out visible patrols and stop-and-search activity, they arrested 201 individuals for violence related offences across the county, 14 of these involved a weapon or bladed article.
Chief Inspector Gemma Barr, Operational Lead at Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, said: “This week of action shows what can be achieved when communities, police, and partners work together. Every knife handed in is potentially a life saved. It’s about prevention, early intervention, and making people – especially young people – think twice about carrying a weapon.”
Other highlights from the week included:
- 2,095 weapons were taken out of circulation, the majority (2,077) through voluntary surrender at our weapon bins.
- Educational talks delivered in schools, colleges, care homes, and cadet groups.
- Knife arches were used in town centres and transport hubs, sparking public conversations about the risks of carrying knives.
- Mobile police stations deployed to high footfall areas to speak with members of the public.
- Weapon sweeps across the county, including the seizure of an electric-powered BB gun.
‘Sceptre’ is held twice a year as a national week of action but reflects year-round work in Lancashire to prevent violence and tackle knife crime.
Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Carrying or using knives is completely unacceptable, and no one should have to live in fear of such dangerous weapons in their community. We must use every available resource to punish those recklessly putting themselves and others at risk — ensuring our officers have the tools, support, and authority to take decisive action. At the same time, we must focus on education to raise awareness about the dangers of knife crime and ultimately save lives. Policing alone cannot solve this issue. Education plays a vital role in reducing the number of people who choose to carry knives. That’s why partnerships with organisations like our Football Community Trusts, through initiatives such as the Violence Reduction Network, are so important. These collaborations allow us to engage directly with young people across Lancashire. Anything we can do to prevent knife crime across Lancashire, ultimately makes our county safer.”
