Overview
- The national week of action ran from May 18 to May 24 and saw forces across England carry out weapon sweeps, stop‑searches, warrants, test purchases and community engagement.
- Essex emptied 15 knife bins and reported nearly 1.3 tonnes of bladed items—about 6,000 knives—while Lancashire’s West Division recovered 658 blades.
- Local operations in Dorset included a Lynch Lane warrant in Weymouth that seized Rambo and samurai knives plus suspected drugs and three motorbikes with enquiries ongoing, and a Bournemouth stop‑search that led to a 43‑year‑old man being released under investigation.
- Test‑purchase checks found multiple retailers failed Challenge 25 age checks in Wiltshire, Dorset and Lancashire, prompting Trading Standards referrals and promises of follow‑up enforcement.
- Forces stressed prevention work alongside seizures, with school talks, weapon‑surrender bins, referrals of young people for support and trials such as Wiltshire’s Safer Knives and Bleed Kit Partnership to reduce harm.