Rotherham cops 'upping their efforts' after knife crime increase

South Yorkshire Police said it was “determined to stamp out” knife related crimes and was “upping its efforts” to tackle the issue.

Undercover and uniformed cops will continue to carry out stop and searches while patrolling “areas known for knife crime” as part of Operation Alligator, said a force spokeswoman.

Individuals known to the force will be monitored and officers will have a high visibility presence to send a clear message that knives will not be tolerated, she added.

Since September, officers in the district have seized over 40 knives during stop and searches and there has been a “slight increase in knife related crimes”.

Sgt Simon Kirkham, district operational lead for Op Alligator said: “We do not wish to cause undue alarm, as being a victim of such crime is rare but we do thank our communities for their support and understanding.

“We will continue to work with schools, licensed premises and our partners to tackle this unwanted behaviour in Rotherham and raise the profile of knife crime to ensure we continue to see positive results from our dedicated work.

“Clearly we would always prefer to prevent but those that persist and carry a knife in a public place can expect robust action, and if it’s a second occasion we find you committing this offence a mandatory minimum of six months imprisonment will apply, but it can be up to four years.

"Do not carry knives. If you are a parent or guardian, take every opportunity to dissuade your young people from obtaining them and carrying them. All that said, the vast majority of Rotherham residents are law abiding and it is relatively unlikely you will be a victim. We appreciate your support.”

Officers have been working closely with partners at RMBC and the Youth Offending Team to ensure offenders and the public think twice before purchasing a prohibited weapon as part of their Safer Rotherham programme.

A number of programmes have been delivered in secondary schools to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of knife crime. Officers aim to reduce crime rates within schools by 15 per cent.