A BATTLE to remove knives from Barnsley’s communities following a rise in crime involving blades - which has resulted in three deaths in a year - will be met head on by police.
Carl Dixon, 35, Lazarus Makono, 26, and Alan Sutton, 41, have all died as a result of stabbings and South Yorkshire Police - backed by Mayor Oliver Coppard - have confirmed more work will be done to end the ‘scourge’.
In the period between July 2023 and June 2024 there were 1,492 incidents involving a knife or sharp instrument and Operation Sceptre returned this week to help reduce the figures.
As well as conducting policing operations such as warrants, knife seizures and test purchases, the force will take part in increased community engagement, proactive communications, the delivery of educational materials on the dangers of carrying knives and information on the impact that knife crime has on victims, perpetrators, families and communities.
Mr Coppard said: “When I took on South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner powers following May’s election, one of my manifesto commitments is to prioritise a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime.
“It is a scourge on our communities, destroying the lives of both victims of knife crime and those who carry knives.
“Across the country, the rates of knife crime are growing, and they are growing more quickly in South Yorkshire than in other similar places.
“That’s why I have made knife crime a priority and committed to take a zero-tolerance approach.
“Weeks of action like Sceptre are important, not just for taking knives off the streets in the short term, but also by putting early intervention and education at the heart of that approach.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure, whoever they are, wherever they are.
“By working with South Yorkshire Police and across our communities, I am determined to make that vision a reality.”
Work is being done to target the accessibility of deadly and intimidating weapons to reduce how easily they can end up in the wrong hands.
The recent ban of ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes supports policing in stopping their manufacture and overall availability.
Mr Coppard added: “The fight to remove knife crime from our communities has also been further strengthened with the government’s recent announcements about a proposed ban on certain types of swords and the largest-ever review into how knives are sold online to identify any gaps in legislation which will prevent these being sold illegally to under-18s.
“In reality very few people carry knives but if someone you know is carrying a knife you can report it to the police, speak to a trusted family member or teacher, or you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers.”
Ministry of Justice figures show 287 first-time knife crime offenders locally went through the criminal justice system in the last financial year.
Of the offenders dealt with by South Yorkshire Police, 60 were children, leading more education work to be carried out in Barnsley’s schools.
Overall, 31 per cent of knife crime offenders in South Yorkshire were given an immediate sentence while a quarter received a suspended sentence.
Detective Superintendent David Cowley, who is the force lead for knife crime, added: “Unfortunately we are all too familiar with the devastating effect of knife crime, with families and friends losing loved ones to this awful crime.
“This year alone, people have lost their lives because of homicides involving knives, this is not acceptable.
“Reducing knife crime remains a priority for our force and we will continue to seek to bring offenders to justice.”
