Knife Crime
Sceptre
Sceptre is a national initiative that takes place twice a year. It aims to raise awareness of knife crime and the police action in detecting, reducing and preventing it. Working closely with partner agencies, Wiltshire Police support this campaign using a number of different approaches, which can include social media posts, working with schools, colleges and youth groups to educate young people on the dangers of carrying knives, conducting safety sweeps for hidden or discarded knives, high visibility patrols, raising awareness of Challenge 25 where people can buy knives.
Four permanent surrender bins have recently been installed in Swindon at the following locations Broadgreen Community Centre, Liden Library, Pinehurst Community Centre and Walcot Dome. We would encourage people to safely discard of any knives or weapons they are carrying, it’s a safe and anonymous way of getting rid of a weapon. If you know someone who carries a weapon, we ask you to encourage them to surrender it – “Bin a Knife, Save a Life”.
There is no safe place to be stabbed on your body. It doesn't matter where on the body the knife strikes, there is no safe place. The blade can do irreversible damage to your body, leaving you with life-changing injuries, life-threatening injuries, or even death.
If you carry a knife you are more likely to be injured by that very knife. When a knife is used its used to cause serious harm and even death. If you don't carry one it can't be used against you.
Did you know that 99% of 10-29 year olds don't carry a knife? There is a widespread assumption that more people carry knives now when in reality they don't. Its far more common to NOT carry a knife
What would you do?
Would you stand by while a mate got themselves into danger by carrying a knife?
Would you talk to them about the dangers they are getting themselves into, or the dangerous people they are connected with?
Or would you be brave and inform someone of what you know, to save you friend from either being a victim of knife crime or using that knife against someone else?
Please see our Help and Signposting page for more guidance on what you can do next or who you can go to to get some support.
How to stay safe
If you find yourself in a situation where you are having to carry a knife, due to threats/intimidation/protection, here’s what you can do to try and keep safe:
- Can you open up and talk to a trusted adult about your situation? If you can, they may be able to help and guide you on how what your options are and where to go next
- If you feel you are unable to speak or report anything to Police, you can give information anonymously via www.fearless.org
- If you know a friend is carrying a knife or weapon, again you can use www.fearless.org to report this. Remember it’s not snaking, snitching or grassing, you’re saving a friend!
Watch this video about young people speaking out against knife crime
Situations involving carrying a knife
We have below a few different type of scenarios involving/using/carrying knives.
Somebody you know at school comes in an says that someone has mugged them off and they are going to shank them. You hear that they have a knife in their bag. What are you going to do?
- Tell a trusted adult - police, parents, guardians, teachers
- Report anonymously (school anon reporting / fearless.org)
- Do nothing because someone else will
To do nothing is not acceptable - we all have the responsibility to try to save our friends. If you know any information regarding carrying knives and you do nothing with this information you could get into trouble with the police for withholding information
You recognise a picture of someone on social media who is involved in a stabbing in your town. What would you do?
- Tell a trusted adult - police, parents, guardians, teachers
- Report anonymously (school anon reporting / fearless.org)
- Report it to the police on 101
To do nothing is not acceptable - we all have the responsibility to try to save our friends.
A teacher finds a knife in your bag. Its not yours but you know who put it there. What should you do?
- Be open and honest with the teacher and give them as much information as you can
- If you were pressured into carrying the know you need to talk to a trusted adult who can help you. If you can't talk, maybe you could write it down? Could you show them a note on your phone? Or direct them to social media?
If you feel you can't talk to a trusted adult or teacher, please report any information on www.fearless.org anonymously.
Remember this could affect you too and if someone is asking you to hold a knife r another weapon are they really your friends? By doing this they are also putting you in danger
If you know any information regarding carrying knives and you do nothing with this information you could get into trouble with the police for withholding information
You are at the park and someone you are with takes out a knife and uses it to threaten someone else for their mobile phone. What should you do?
- Phone 999 and get yourself to safety. You don't have to tell them who you are but please try and provide as much detail as possible such as location, description of person, description of weapon / knife seen and any direction of travel by the subject
Doing or saying nothing is not ok. You have a responsibility to act and report it either via police or via www.fearless.org
If you know any information regarding carrying knives and you do nothing with this information you could get into trouble with the police for withholding information.
Watch the Wiltshire Police's Youth and Early Intervention teams’ short video about knife crime
This video has been made with Wiltshire College students.
Further information on knife crime
Knife crime | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) This site has a wide range of information from custodial sentences if you’re caught carrying a knife, to what is classed as a knife.
Why carry a weapon? - The Mix – Information on what to do if you want to get out of carrying a knife and where and how to dispose of a weapon safely
Knife crime | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) – Fearless have created their own simple page referring to any information on knives/weapons and the implications of carrying a weapon or knife.
Knife Crime Stories | The Ben Kinsella Trust – Real life stories of young people who have lost their lives through knife crime
Stop knife crime | Wiltshire Police Wiltshire Police website with some amazing information on it
Home - Kooth – A Swindon based charity who you can talk to
Young victims of crime - Victim Support – Victim Support who can support you through any crime that has happened or provide general advice
