A week-long crackdown on bladed weapons has seen whopping number of knives seized in our town.

Operation Sceptre was a county-wide operation which took place last week. 

Cheshire has one of the lowest rates of knife crime in England, but statistics show that the number of knife-related offences committed in the county have increased by 13 per cent from the end of March 2021 to the end of March 2022.

Operation Sceptre took place from Monday May 16 to Sunday May 22, with Macclesfield seeing knives taken from our streets in the triple figures.

Amnesty bins are an effective method in reducing knife-related crime, as bladed weapons in the triple figures were collected in Macclesfield alone last week. (Image - Cheshire Police)

In a statement, a Cheshire Police spokesperson confirmed: "Approximately 120 knives were taken possession of during the week of action by Macclesfield Local Policing Unit."

These came predominantly from surrender bins, and Cheshire Police saw a total of 721 knives collected with this method.

There was also one arrested related to knives in Macclesfield during the same week. No name has been released in association with this arrest.

Superintendent Sarah Heath, the knife crime lead for Cheshire Constabulary said: "Nationally, knife crime is a growing problem and the week-long Operation Sceptre campaign is an initiative that the force is always keen to support.

Macclesfield Police Station is located on Brunswick Street. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"However, knife crime is an issue that the force tackles throughout the year, not just during weeks of action, with officers working day and night to protect our communities.

"At Cheshire Constabulary we have an ongoing 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 are proud of the fact that Cheshire has one of the lowest rates of knife crime in the country, but we are aware that there has been a 13% increase in knife crime related incidents in Cheshire over the past twelve months.

Cheshire is the second safest county in the UK, when it comes to knife crime. (Image - Cheshire Police)

"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.

"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.

Macclesfield: A police car on Charter Way. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"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 society as a whole.

"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."

Officers also visited schools in Macclesfield to give talks on knife attacks. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

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

The amnesty bin collection figure is 75 more knives seized than a similar seven-day operation in Macclesfield during November 2020.

However, despite having double Congleton's population, Macclesfield saw 40 less knives seized in the most recent Operation, than in our neighbouring smaller town.

In total, 26 arrests were made across Cheshire during Operation Sceptre, with 26 knives directly seized from members of the public.

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