This week, police in Lancaster and Morecambe are supporting Operation Sceptre, a national campaign tackling knife crime.
The week is running concurrently with the Ben Kinsella Trust’s Knife Crime Awareness Week and follows the trust’s theme of ‘Change can happen’, focusing on positive work and action to tackle knife crime.
On Tuesday morning, Morecambe’s Neighbourhood Police gave an update into the initiative, as they went out to empty the knife bins in Lancaster and Morecambe.
The bins are a place where knives and other bladed articles can be disposed of safely and anonymously.
PCSO Terry Roddan said: ‘There are many knives in the bins, which is better than them being out on the streets where they could do harm to others.
‘’We appreciate the continued support and use of these knife bins, which can be found opposite Morecambe Train Station on Central Drive, and on the cycle track underneath Carlisle Bridge in Lancaster.’
It is illegal to carry a knife in public in the UK without lawful reason. A blade by law is anything longer than three inches. It is illegal to possess any knife or blade that is concealed or disguised, any type of sword with a straight blade of 14 inches or more., a Zombie Knife or machete, or a knife where the blade opens automatically or is released, such as a flick knife or switch blade.
You can help police reduce knife crime in your area, by reporting any suspected knife crime issues on 101, or report online through the Lancashire constabulary website. In an emergency, ring 999.
You can also report any stores to trading standards for sales of knives to under 18s through Citizens Advice.
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says he is supporting ambitious national plans to drive knife crime down.
The government’s proposals set out a long-term ambition to cut knife crime by 50 per cent over the next decade.
The Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (LVRN) leads targeted early intervention and prevention work to tackle serious violence.
The LVRN Annual Report 2025 reveals that, for the second consecutive year, there were no homicide victims under the age of 25, alongside a 15 per cent reduction in knife crime and a 31 per cent fall in hospital admissions for injuries caused by sharp objects.
This work is being backed by more than £600,000 secured from the Home Office’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund, enabling Lancashire Police to intensify action in areas affected most by knife crime.
Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said: “Knife crime is preventable, and I strongly support national plans to drive it down further.
“Here in Lancashire, we’re already showing what works – early intervention, strong partnerships, and a relentless focus on prevention. The results speak for themselves, with significant reductions in serious violence and fewer young people becoming victims.
“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to back the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network to strengthen collaboration, protect vulnerable communities, and build on this progress.”
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