Police Launch Operation Crook

Operation Crook, Knife Amnesty.

Over the Christmas period Devon and Cornwall Police have noticed a ‘spike’ in knife related incidents The last month there has seen a number of knife crime incidents in the Torbay area, one of which has resulted in serious injury.

The police have responded to this by setting up Operation CROOK.  In the next few weeks they will be rolling out a number of measures based around prevention, enforcement & public reassurance in the area. The Police will be working with our partners in Safer Communities, Youth Offending Teams, Licensing Department, Schools & other outside agencies.

Despite these recent incidents, research indicates that there are few knife crime issues in Devon and Cornwall - this is a very safe area.

We need to acknowledge that any level of knife crime is a problem. It is considered a 'fashion' for some young people to carry knives. The peak age for carrying knives is with 15 and 16 year old age group. Unfortunately they do not appreciate the level of risk this creates - principally to themselves.

Operation CROOK will commence on Thursday the 19^th of January 2012 with a knife amnesty, which will run until Sunday the 29^th of January 2012.

KNIFE SURRENDER BINS will be located in Torquay & Newton Abbot Police Stations & can be accessed during opening hours.  

These bins will be clearly marked & members of the public will have the means to anonymously deposit items.

Knives to be deposited should be wrapped in cardboard or something similar and secured with tape and therefore not able to be used during carriage to an amnesty bin location.

The intention of the amnesty is to  reduce the availability of certain kinds of knives and bladed instruments which are designed to be lethal e.g. combat knives, swords, butterfly knives, flick knives etc. Any reduction in this category of knives and bladed instruments will reduce harm in our communities. This amnesty also includes any other bladed article or domestic knife which you wish to deposit

DS Chris Tapley said about Operation Crook - “I would appeal to friends, relatives etc of people that habitually carry knives to take the opportunity of disposing of these kinds of weapons as a way of trying to protect those close to them.   You can use the new Police number 101 or the Crime Stoppers number 0800 555111 to report information on knife crime & tell us about people who are using knives illegally.

I am sending out a strong message that knives, when misused, can damage and even destroy individual lives, as well as communities. The penalty on indictment for carrying a knife in a public place is four years imprisonment.”

Devon & Cornwall Police are being pro-active in tackling the misuse of knives and the culture of routine knife carrying.  We are committed to reducing violence and making our streets safer.