Op Sceptre - Tackling Knife Crime

Op Sceptre - Tackling Knife Crime

This week we’re supporting Op Sceptre, a national campaign to tackle knife crime.

We know locally knife crime is relatively low compared to other areas, however, we’re not complacent and continue to take action to stop people from carrying a knife in the first place.

Steer Clear have made some slight adjustments in the service’s eligible criteria following recent guidance around knife possession offences. Please see below and feel free to share with wider teams:

Are you worried or concerned about a young person becoming involved in knife crime?

Steer Clear supports young people aged 10-17 living in West Mercia for up to 6 months on a 121 basis. Each young person will be allocated a Steer Clear practitioner who will meet them on a weekly basis, supporting them to understand the risks and consequence of knife crime (covering the law, the ripple effect of knife crime, stop & search) emotional regulation and online harms. Practitioners will also support young people into a positive activity at the end of intervention.

Criteria:

Aged 10-17 living in West Mercia

There has been intel that a young person may be carrying a knife, but they have not been found with a knife

A young person has been made verbal threats to stab (in person or online)

Photos of a young people with knives has been created and shared on social media

A young person is associating with others who are known to carry knives but do not carry themselves

Examples of eligible referrals:

A knife has been found at home, hidden in a young person’s room. The young person says that they don’t feel safe in the community so they’re considering carrying it with them, or won’t say why they have it.

A young person tells a professional that they’re thinking about carrying a knife.

A young person is beginning to show interest in knives and is posting pictures of knives online, and watching videos of violence.

A young person threatens to stab another young person.

A parent or professional is concerned that a young person may be/may start carrying a knife but there is no evidence that this is happening

Exclusion Criteria:

Young people must not currently be involved or working with the Youth Justice System

Young people must not hold any previous convictions for weapons

Referrals to Steer Clear can be made below:

Steer Clear | The Children's Society

If you know of a young person who is carrying a knife in the community/in school, this MUST be reported to the police. Under the new government guidance for knife possession offences, the police must then notify Youth Justice within 24 hours. Steer Clear will be unable to accept referrals for young people in these circumstances.

Government guidance for child knife possession offences (accessible) - GOV.UK

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Message Sent By
Ryan Davies
(West Mercia Police, Police Constable, Arleston, College & Wellington)