Katrina Higginbottom - knife sweep

Residents of Walkden, Worsley, Boothstown, and Westwood Park have been encouraged to hand in bladed objects this weekend. 

The local neighbourhood officers will be collecting bladed articles as a part Operation Sceptre, as police aim to remove blades weapons from the community.

The sweep will be conducted between 11am and 1pm on Saturday 16 November, in Parrfold Park Pavilion.

The local neighbourhood force have requested anyone handing in weapons to handed them in covered or wrapped in cardboard to prevent injury.

The operation Sceptre is a project setup by Greater Manchester Police and will look to tackle knife crime not only through enforcement but education.

This will see the forces come together to combine their efforts, build on their existing plans, and raise more awareness around knife crime in the bi-annual week of action, in the hope of making the streets safer.

The focus this week from the force is focusing on knife-enabled robbery, seizing knives and bringing those people to justice who decided to carry and sometimes use a knife.

Ahead of the event this weekend Detective Chief Inspector Roger Edwards from the force’s Violence Reduction Unit and part of Operation Venture said: “This week of intense activity is all part of our commitment to reducing knife crime and in particular knife-enabled robbery which is a key element in tackling violence.

“Carrying a knife puts your life and the lives of others at risk and our specialised team and officers from across the force are actively targeting those involved in knife crime at there are no positives to carrying a knife.

“We know not every young person carries a knife, but we encourage parents, guardians and extended family members to talk to young members of your family about knife crime.

He continued: “Help raise awareness on how to recognise the signs of knife crime and encourage them to think about the consequences.”

The operation in Parrfold Park Pavilion will serve as just one of the local police neighbourhoods conducting knife amnesty projects.

And residents will have the opportunity to hand in weapons, and make their streets a safe place to live.

This was also shared by Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities said: “It is also important that our approach to reducing knife crime includes a community-led approach, which puts power and decision making in the hands of local people.”

The knife sweep will run from 11am until 1pm, and residents have been urged to provide the weapons or bladed objects either safely wrapped or covered in cardboard.

You can report knife crime by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also make a report via our website at, alongside our Live Chat function: www.gmp.police.uk

And more information about the event about the action of Operation Sceptre can be found here.

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