Responsible retailers and public awareness are key to knife safety

Devon & Cornwall Police took part in the national ‘Sceptre’ knife safety campaign last week, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). It ran from Monday 17 to Sunday 24 November 2025 and is part of the wider national strategy to remove dangerous weapons from the streets and keep communities safe. 

The guiding theme was ensuring that bricks and mortar retailers are following the appropriate guidelines for knife sales.

During the campaign, police officers and police cadets carried out a number of activities, including test purchases and visits to businesses, across the region.

Raising public awareness was also an important element of the campaign and so weapons sweeps and community and schools engagement were also carried out.  Well over 1500 students received educational inputs around the dangers of carrying knives.

Only one shop failed the test purchase exercise and was given guidance in relation to its knife selling policy.

Knife bins were available across the Force area to enable people to surrender knives.

A total of 46 knives were taken off the streets during the operation.

For the full article please see the Devon & Cornwall Police website here.