School and retailer visits are among the plans during the week of action

Hertfordshire Constabulary says it is carrying out a week of action in a bid to keep knife crime low throughout the county.

As part of Operation Sceptre, which runs nationwide between Monday 16 and Sunday 22 November, the force is running a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of carrying knives.

As part of the initiative, officers are carrying out targeted enforcement and knife detection activity, visiting retailers to ensure they are not illegally selling knives to under-18s, and visiting schools to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives.

During the campaign, knives can be handed in to police stations at Hatfield, Stevenage and Watford, or deposited in permanent surrender bins around the county, which includes one at Queensway car park in Hemel Hempstead.

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s strategic lead for knife crime Superintendent Chris Hay said: “Knife crime remains low in Hertfordshire, but we are determined to keep it that way.

“We regularly support Sceptre alongside policing partners across the country, as part of our continuing effort to drive knife crime down even further.

“Knife crime is a priority for us throughout the year, but Sceptre gives us an opportunity to intensify that activity.

“We will be speaking to young people in schools and colleges about the risks of carrying a knife, working with retailers and giving people the opportunity to safely surrender weapons they should not have.

“Alongside that prevention work, there will be a strong enforcement focus. Our officers will be carrying out targeted activity across the county, using intelligence to identify and disrupt those we believe are carrying knives or are involved in violence.

“Where people choose to carry weapons or commit offences, we will take action.

“Carrying a knife does not make you safer and can have devastating consequences.

“We want to prevent people picking up a knife in the first place, but we will also continue to target those who choose to carry one.”

If you have concerns about someone carrying a knife, or information about someone who is involved in knife crime, you can contact police via the 101 number or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.