Knife crime 'shatters lives'
Merseyside Police is taking part in the annual 'Operation Sceptre'
Merseyside Police say their commitment to removing knives from the streets is 'unwavering', as they join the latest Operation Sceptre campaign.
It's a national week of action to tackle knife crime, with officers carrying out a range of activity, including:
- Stop searches and search warrants
- Intelligence-led weapon sweeps and open land searches
- Knife detection arches
- Test purchase operations
- Free bike marking events to prevent theft and robbery
- High-visibility patrols in areas most affected by knife crime and violent crime
Knives and other weapons can also be surrendered at drop-off points in ten police stations across Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral.
Over the past year, 203 knives were handed in this way.
The force says those patrols led to a near 30% reduction in serious violence (145 fewer offences) in hotspot areas last year, with 300 arrests and 40 weapons seized.
The latest figures from the Office from National Statistics show knife-enabled crime in Merseyside fell by 8% in the year ending June 2025 - down to 1,179 offences from 1,276 the previous year.
Superintendent Phil Mullally, lead for knife crime and serious violence, said:
"Our commitment to removing knives from our streets remains unwavering, and we urge the public to report any concerns about individuals carrying weapons in their community.
"We take a firm stance against anyone found carrying a knife or bladed article illegally. If you have any unwanted or illegal weapons, please use this opportunity to dispose of them safely by dropping them into a local police station."
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, said:
"Knife crime shatters lives, devastates families, and causes lasting damage to our communities. Every incident has a profound impact, which is why tackling it remains one of our highest priorities.
"While we have seen a very welcome 8% decrease in knife-enabled crime locally, our approach must be relentless and multi-faceted, and the national Sceptre campaign is an important opportunity to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is never the answer."