Action tackling knife crime across South Yorkshire has started on the 19th May.
The week long plan has been called ‘Spectre’ and encourages officers to ‘detect, prevent and reduce knife crime within our local communities’.
Spectre aims to increase community engagement, deliver educational materials on the danger of carrying knives, and reflect how impactful knife crime is on victims, perpetrators, families and communities.
Detective Superintendent David Cowley, who is the force lead for knife crime, said: “Throughout the year, our officers work hard to keep communities safe from knife crime, so this week is business as usual for us.
“We are all too familiar with the heartbreaking aftermath of knife crime and it remains a priority for our force.”
Amnesty Bins, mostly operated by charity Always An Alternative, have been installed in various locations around the city, including on: Handley Street, Stradbroke Drive, Birley Moor Road and Devonshire Green on Division Street.
Jack, who works at a shop on Division Street called Balance, said how ‘something’ needs to be done.
He said: “At least it is someone trying to do something about getting the knives off the streets. It is a big thing happening at the moment.
“You hear about it in London, but it’s shocking that it happened so close.”
Jack was referencing the recent tragic incident that happened in Sheffield, where a teenager, Harvey Willgoose, was stabbed and died at school.
Throughout this week, local schools and youth groups will see visits from neighbourhood policing team officers delivering sessions around knife crime.
Jack also added: “Although, they need to get to the cause of it.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard said: “We’ve seen all too recently what knife crime does to our community; how young people in particular are at risk of ruining not just their own lives but the lives of others too.
“That’s why I’ve made it a priority through my work as Mayor, and why we need a zero-tolerance approach when knife crime does happen anywhere in South Yorkshire.
“Weeks of action like Sceptre are important because they make that promise a reality; helping to take knives off the streets, but also putting early intervention and education at the heart of our approach.”
To dispose safely of a knife in an Amnesty Bin, visit the South Yorkshire Police website to find the locations.