For Young People
Hertfordshire Constabulary will conduct an Operation Sceptre week of pro-active knife operations between Monday 13 July and Sunday 19 July.
During the week members of the public will be able to surrender any unwanted knives to the police, anonymously and without fear of prosecution for possession of these items.
Knife related crime remains lower in Hertfordshire than in other parts of the country, but the amnesty provides an opportunity to remove knives and other weapons from the streets. It will also help to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is illegal and will not help to keep you safe.
During the week, any knives in your possession that you do not want or should not have, can be surrendered at one of the following police stations: Hatfield, Stevenage or Watford. There will also be temporary knife bins in locations around the county and there are permanent surrender bins in Waltham Cross, details of which can be found at www.herts.police.uk/amnesty.
Items can be surrendered anonymously during the amnesty in the knife bins provided, the locations and opening times of these stations can be found at www.herts.police.uk/stations.
“Knife crime is low in Hertfordshire when compared to other parts of the country. But when it does occur it is devastating for the victim and spreads fear through communities.
For several years it has rightly been a policing priority and we have programmes in place to target those already carrying knives or at risk of being drawn into that culture.”
– Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, David Lloyd
“Crime has reduced significantly during lockdown, and we feel that it is a good time to make sure there are less knives in circulation and reiterate the dangers of carrying a knife.
We have developed comprehensive plans over the past two years to address knife crime and regular amnesties are part of our wider plans to tackle violent crime. During the week we will be conducting operations to reduce knife-related crime, as well as raise awareness that it is illegal to carry a knife in public and may lead to arrest.“
– Inspector Nicola Dean from the Crime Reduction Team
If you are concerned or have information about someone carrying knives or are aware of anyone involved in knife crime you can report this by calling the Hertfordshire Constabulary non-emergency number 101.
You can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report or speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat, which can be launched here: herts.police.uk/contact.
Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
If you would like further information on support services relating to knife crime contact Fearless.org.
During the knife amnesty, you can let us know how you feel we are dealing with knife crime in your local area by answering two quick questions. Simply visit www.bit.ly/herts-knifecrime – all responses are anonymous and may help to contribute towards local initiatives.
We Can Help
It might seem a bit confusing or scary to find out you will be working with us at first. We might start working with you and your family because of a referral from someone like your social worker or a teacher at school, or your parents/carers may have called us themselves. We understand that sometimes life can be tricky to navigate and your feelings and responses can be hard for you to manage alone.
We will always do our best to support you and your family through any struggles you are facing. We will always listen to your voice and hear what you have to say about what has been happening for you, and how you would like things to be different going forward. We will make sure you are involved all the way through the work we are doing with you and your family and we will keep your best interests at the heart of everything we do.
Our Approach
We respond to every referral and enquiry promptly so you can get the support you need as soon as possible. We usually work with families for six weeks, but we can tailor it to your needs according to what you, your children, and your family tell us would be best and most helpful for you. We can work alongside other professionals and agencies to ensure you are able to achieve the best outcome. You can talk to our Family Support Workers about anything you need to; we will always be compassionate, empathetic, understanding and non-judgemental.
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