A week of action on knife crime in South Yorkshire
15 knife amnesty bins are opening up as part of Operation Sceptre
Today (Monday 19 May) is the start of a week of action tackling knife crime in South Yorkshire.
As part of our commitment to tackle knife crime, we are taking part in a nationally led week of action known as Sceptre.
During the week, which is running from today until Sunday (25 May), we will highlight the work our officers do every day to detect, prevent and reduce knife crime within our local communities.
We have seen first-hand the unnecessary destruction caused by knife crime and the pain grieving friends and families go through when they lose a loved one to an incident involving a knife.
Detective Superintendent David Cowley, who is the force lead for knife crime, said:
"Anyone who carries a knife is putting themselves and others in danger. People don't realise that you are more likely to get hurt from the knife you are carrying than from someone else who is.
"We are all too familiar with the heartbreaking aftermath of knife crime and it remains a priority for our force."
During the week of action, activity will include intelligence-led operations targeting habitual knife carriers, open land searches and weapon sweeps.
Officers will be conducting plain-clothed and high-visibility patrols in key hotspot locations that have been identified as hotspots for most serious violence and knife crime. Within these areas, officers will conduct stop and searches, and vehicle stops.
Local schools and youth groups will see visits from neighbourhood policing team officers delivering sessions around knife crime.
If you do own a knife, or bladed article, there are many knife amnesty bins located across South Yorkshire which you can dispose of these in safe way and anonymous way.
Amnesty bins, including those operated by charity Always An Alternative, can be found in the following locations:
Vape Store and Bargains Galore, 9 Regent Street, Barnsley
Junction of Warmsworth Road/Anelay Road, Balby, Doncaster
Junction of Broxholme Lane/Highfield Road/Nether Hall Road, Doncaster city centre
Eastwood Lane, Rotherham town centre
Vape Shack, 5a Church Street, Swinton, Rotherham
Wolseley Road, Sharrow, Sheffield
Concrete Canvas boxing gym, 7 Dyche Lane, Jordanthorpe Centre, Sheffield
Devonshire Green (off Fitzwilliam Street), Sheffield city centre
High Green Development Trust, The Campus, 23 Pack Horse Lane, High Green, Sheffield
Birley Moor Road, Frecheville, Sheffield
Bushfire, 427 Halifax Road, Grenoside, Sheffield
Handley Street, Burngreave, Sheffield
Stradbroke Drive, Sheffield
Gaunt Shops, Blackstock Road, Sheffield
Tinsley Forum car park, Bawtry Road