A STANLEY knife, a claw hammer and two metal bars were found by police during sweeps in Northwich and Winsford.

Officers were carrying out knife sweeps throughout the county this week as part of Operation Sceptre.

The national campaign was devised to reduce the impact of knife crime in communities across the country.

In Northwich and Winsford, officers patrolled hotspots in the area, engaged with members of the public and searched them when there was cause to do so.

They also delivered presentations at schools in crime hotspot areas. Bleeding control kits were also distributed to 10 schools and colleges in the towns.

Across Cheshire, police arrested 42 people, seized 48 knives, and collected another 226 weapons via 15 surrender bins throughout the county.

Officers also conducted 56 weapons sweeps, stopped and searched 156 people and executed nine warrants in relation to knife crime.

Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, who is Cheshire Constabulary’s knife crime lead, said: “Nationally, knife crime is a growing problem, and the week-long Operation Sceptre campaign is an initiative that the force is always more than happy to support.

“We were severely restricted in terms of the work we could do during last year’s two weeks of action for Operation Sceptre, with them having fallen when the country was in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“With us now out of lockdown and certain restrictions having eased, there were more engagement and enforcement options available to us during the latest week of action.

“We grasped these with both hands to tackle knife crime across Cheshire.

“We are proud of the fact that Cheshire has a lower rate of knife crime than most other counties in England, with the number of knife-related offences committed in the county having decreased by 24 per cent from the end of March 2020 to the end of March 2021.

“When people carry knives, it is only a matter of time before someone suffers life-changing injuries or is killed, and if you carry a knife then you are much more likely to be involved in a knife crime.

“As all the statistics show, carrying a knife doesn’t make you safer.

“At Cheshire Constabulary we have a structured prepare, protect, pursue and prevent approach to tackling knife crime that involves various partner agencies, including local authorities, education providers, health authorities, third sector organisations, youth representatives and community groups.

“We work together to achieve long-term change by educating young people about the dangers and futility of carrying weapons.

“We make sure they know that carrying a knife, even if they have no intention of using it, is a crime and can increase the likelihood of suffering an injury and having a criminal record – anyone found carrying a knife in public, without a reasonable excuse, faces a prison sentence.

“We also steer them away from criminality and offer them attractive alternative ways to spend their time.

“Our goal is to achieve weapons-free streets throughout the county and we endeavour – through education, awareness and action – to make Cheshire an area where no-one carries a knife, or feels that there is a reason to do so.

“However, the police cannot achieve this goal on our own. Knife crime is a societal problem that cannot be solved without the support of the whole society.

“If you have any information regarding knife crimes, or those who carry weapons, please let us know.

“If you know someone who carries a knife, reporting it to the police could be enough to save a life.”

To report any type of crime involving weapons, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be passed to the force online via the reporting section on our website.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the Crimestoppers website.