"Amnesty bins" on offer in Rotherham as part of police anti-knife crime campaign

Operation Sceptre — a national campaign which takes place twice a year — will run from today until Sunday, May 21, although the knife bins will remain in place all year round.

South Yorkshire Police will also undertake a range of activities including targeted operations and engagement and education to to tackle some of the myths around knife crime and to raise awareness among young people on the risks of carrying a knife.

Det Supt Dave Cowley, force lead for violent crime, explained: “Despite what some may think, we know that carrying a knife makes you more vulnerable, placing you in dangerous situations, and putting you and others at risk of serious harm. 

“Sadly, one in three people get stabbed with their own knife, which shows that carrying a knife does not keep you safe.

“We have invested in a range of measures across the force to help tackle knife crime. 

“This includes delivering proactive and intelligence-led activity in response to the needs of communities across South Yorkshire — some of which you may see, but much of which is carried out by specialist covert teams. 

“Our dedicated Armed Crime Team are at the forefront of this work, alongside Operation Fortify, our dedicated team tackling organised crime, which we know is intrinsically linked to knife crime.” 

As part of the operation, members of the public are being encouraged to drop off their dangerous or unwanted knives and blades at a number of knife amnesty bins across South Yorkshire.

These include the junction of Warmsworth Road and Anelay Road in Balby, and Eastwood Lane, and The Crofts in Rotherham town centre. 

Det Supt Cowley added: “Our message today to those intent on carrying knives is clear — drop the knife before you do irreparable damage, and further lives are lost and ruined forever.”