Commissioner's search pledge in knife crime crackdown

POLICE will tackle a rise in knife crime in South Yorkshire through a targeted use of stop and search, according to police and crime commissioner Dr Alan Billings.
By David Parker
Published 14th Aug 2018, 15:41 BST
Updated 14th Aug 2018, 15:43 BST

Dr Billings (pictured) said the drive would be led by Operation Sceptre, which involves going into communities to find weapons.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed there had been a ten per cent increase in possession of offensive weapons and a 35 per cent increase in violence against the person between the years ending March last year and March this year.

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There was a 17 per cent increase in crime, excluding fraud, in South Yorkshire in the same period.

Dr Billings said a 76 per cent increase in stalking and harrassment offences was down to a greater willingness of people to report them.