AN OPERATION to crackdown on knife crime has been hailed a success by a police force which made nine arrests for possession of a bladed weapon in public last week.

A 14-year-old was one of nine arrested by North Yorkshire Police during a national week of action against knife crime.

Operation Sceptre, which began on Monday, March 11 and ended on Sunday, March 17, ramped up police patrols in the county, and carried out covert checks on retailers who sold knives.

Detective Superintendent Steve Thomas on North Yorkshire Police said: "Even though levels of knife crime in North Yorkshire are low and we live and work in one of the safest places in England, we must not be complacent."

Out of nine arrested, three men aged 22, 35 and 52, were charged with possession of a knife and reported to the court, whilst the 14-year-old male was released but referred to a Youth Outcome Panel - a partnership between police and the youth offenders team.

Remaining suspects were released under investigation alongside other offences, but only one person was released and faced no further action.

Det Supt Thomas said: "All the bladed items taken off the street of North Yorkshire during the week of action could have been potential weapons if they had got into the wrong hands – there is no risk of that now as they will all be destroyed appropriately."

The force also teamed up with Trading Standards to audit a selection of retailers, who sold knives, across the county.

The force claimed out of ten retailers tested for underage sales, six of them failed to take "due diligence" to challenge a 16-year-old buyer.

The current law states only an individual over 18 can purchase a knife.

Det Supt Thomas said: “It is an offence to sell a knife, knife blade, razor, axe or other article which has a blade or is sharply pointed to anyone under 18.

“All it takes is for one knife to fall in the wrong hands to have a devastating impact on many lives – not just the victim but their friends, family, community and the perpetrator as well.

“Whilst this week’s results show that more work is needed to ensure that all shops are following the law over knife sales, I would like to say to well done to those stores who were prepared to challenge a youngster trying to buy knives."

A police spokeswoman said the offending retailers would not be identified as no prosecutions had been made, but the retailers had been given verbal and written warnings, and would likely face a future 'test' to establish whether improvements had been implemented.

  • Anyone who has information on knife crime is advised to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.