VIDEO: Knives found in Rotherham parks as knife crime op starts

“KNOWN habitual knife carriers” will be targeted as police kick off a knife-crime crackdown  dubbed Operation Sceptre which has already removed two knives from Rotherham’s streets.

Temp Det Insp Aneela Khalil-Khan said she wanted to make Rotherham a safer place to live and work and encouraged the public to contact the force about knife crime.

Two knives were found in Rotherham parks by police officers yesterday (pictured) as they carried out land searches. The knives were found in Hollowgate Park on Wellgate and in Eastwood’s multi-use games area (MUGA).

Officers also searched Eastwood Pocket Park and the garages around Eastwood’s Erskine Road area.

Det Insp Khalil-Khan said: “We will be targeting known habitual knife carriers and those involved in crime

“We want to make Rotherham a safer place to live and work. We encourage members of the public to contact us if they have any information or know of anyone involved in knife crime.”

The first instalment of Operation Sceptre earlier this year removed over 300 weapons from the region’s streets and saw police engaging with more than 500,000 people in a week.

Last August in Rotherham, police recorded 21 offences of possession of an offensive weapon, which included weapons such as batons and knives. 

This year, the number for August rose to 26.

Traditionally, the force said, the majority of these arrests were made in the town centre and young people were carrying knives for “protection and gang-related activity”.

High-visibility policing operations will be carried out all week across the borough.

Last Thursday, Rotherham United Community Sports Trust launched a programme, funded by the Home Office, aimed at discouraging young people from carrying knives.

Cut It Out will see eight knife crime awareness workshops delivered to 250 young people, as well as graffiti art and events.