National Week of Action to Combat Knife Crime Launched in North Wales

Monday, May 19, marks the start of Sceptre, a national week of action aimed at combating knife crime, running until Sunday, May 25, 2025. Coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Sceptre is a biannual initiative designed to raise awareness about knife crime and highlight police efforts to detect, reduce, and prevent it.

North Wales Police are undertaking a range of activities, including targeted operations, community engagement, and educational programs to reassure young people that they are safer without knives and to encourage them to avoid dangerous situations. Chief Inspector Siobhan Edwards of North Wales Police’s Prevent Hub emphasized the campaign’s urgency, stating, “We must ensure that we are doing everything we can to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is unacceptable and that no good can come from carrying one.”

The week provides an opportunity for the public to surrender knives or bladed articles at amnesty bins located at police station front counters in Wrexham, Mold, Rhyl, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Bangor, Caernarfon, and Holyhead. Additionally, several recycling centers across Gwynedd & Anglesey, Conwy & Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham are participating, including Bangor Recycling Centre, Cibyn Recycling Centre, Mochdre Recycling Centre, and Bryn Lane Household Recycling Centre, among others.

Retailers are being engaged to ensure knives do not fall into the wrong hands, with officers visiting stores to check staff knowledge on knife sales and the Challenge 25 ID policy. Educational efforts are also intensifying, with School Community Police Officers visiting schools and colleges to highlight the risks and consequences of carrying knives.

The public is encouraged to report concerns about knife possession by calling North Wales Police on 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via the Fearless campaign website at https://www.fearless.org/en/give-info. In emergencies, dial 999. Social media users can follow the campaign using the hashtag #Sceptre.

North Wales Police remain steadfast in their commitment to making the region’s streets safer by tackling knife crime head-on.