594 knives have been recovered across Lancashire Police’s West Division as part of Operation Sceptre, a national week-long initiative to tackle knife crime.
Officers from West Division, which covers the areas Lancaster and Morecambe, as well as Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre, carried out a range of both operational and proactive engagement work throughout the week.
The seven knife surrender bins across West Division were emptied, in which 572 knives were recovered. Weapons included machetes, cleavers and a kukri.
Officers also conducted three search warrants and a number of stop searches throughout the week – some of which were at Lancaster Train Station during a multi-agency initiative with British Transport Police, whereby a knife arch was put up to combat criminals using rail services, those carrying knives and other vulnerabilities.
Seven weapon sweeps were carried out across the division, and test purchases were also conducted at 19 retailers.
Proactive engagement involved community meetings, school talks (at both primary and high schools) and leaflet drops.
Sergeant Dan Whitaker from Lancashire’s Violence Reduction Network said: “This is a huge result for West Division and the public have really engaged with this operation.
“It is so important to us to reach as many people as possible through operations like this. Op Sceptre holds an important message and we will continue the work to make West Division a safe place to be.”
You can find your local knife bins at:
Lancaster
Under Carlisle Bridge, Morecambe Road, Lancaster, LA1 2RX
Morecambe
Near youth centre, Central Drive, Morecambe, LA4 4DE
Lancaster police make immediate appeal to parents after youth anti-social behaviour in city centre
LISTEN: Lancaster Music Co-Op to reopen in 2027 after £90k boost
Motorcycle stolen in Lancaster garage burglary
LISTEN: Lancaster film director's new action thriller starring John Hannah coming to home city
Warning issued over potentially fraudulent wedding fayre in Carnforth
Lancaster man who filmed schoolgirls and sent lewd messages jailed for five years
Road in Lancaster closed for works due to collapsed drain
New £1m apprenticeship scheme to create 30 posts at Lancaster City Council
Budget 2026: Reaction from Lancaster and Morecambe area
Morecambe bookies shuts as part of 132 nationwide closures
Stores including Morecambe remain open as Poundland on brink of administration
Lancaster would remain a city even if council is scrapped in local government shake-up
What's On: Our Halloween and bonfire/fireworks events guide
Public consultation looms on "potential closure" of Lancaster Park and Ride
Lancaster hospice to hold Light Up A Life events to reflect on lost loved ones
Councillor reprimanded for breaking rules over controversial A6 housing plans
WATCH: Emu on the loose among traffic in Lancaster
Morecambe school looks for memories to mark 125th birthday
Morecambe FC chief gives staffing update after new arrivals at club
