Knife crime: Police search for weapons around Malvern

Officers carried out knife sweeps at locations across the town as part of Operation Sceptre, a week-long campaign tackling knife crime across the country that runs until November 19.

Malvern police searched for hidden or discarded “edged weapons” in parks, hedgerows and at Malvern Link railway station.

Police search for weapons at the train station (Image: West Mercia Police)

“Knife crime is low in West Mercia and we aim to keep it that way,” said PC Dave Olczak.

“Anyone wanting to dispose of a knife, can take it to amnesty bins at many police stations across West Mercia.”

Officers in Worcester carried out searches at Ronkswood Community Centre and also visited retailers in the city centre to ensure shops selling knives adhere to Challenge 25.

This is a policy that encourages retailers to ask for ID from anyone who looks under 25.

Officers talked to retailers in the city centre (Image: West Mercia Police)

“Worcester Cathedral ward SNT will be involved in a range of activities this week related to the criminal use of knives to ensure the safety of and protect the public,” said a West Mercia Police spokesperson.

“PCSOs Rukhsana Machin and Ian Cadwallader were joined by our partners at Worcestershire Trading Standards visiting retailers to check items such as kitchen knives, hunting knives, pen knives and multi-tools were being correctly stored, and security tagged.

“They also made sure the shops that sell them - including Asda, Blacks, Mountain Warehouse, Trespass and Cookmate Worcester - were adhering to the Challenge 25 policy.”

The police have installed a surrender bin at Worcester Police Station in Castle Street if anyone would like to surrender a knife anonymously.

A previous week-long police campaign in May saw 15 people arrested by West Mercia Police, who carried out 87 stop searches across the force area.

More than 200 knives were placed in surrender bins across the region and a crossbow was among the weapons surrendered in Malvern.