First knife crime warning notice issued as part of our ongoing commitment to tackle knife crime

We have issued our first knife crime warning notice as part of our ongoing commitment to tackling knife crime. 

On 1^st July we launched Operation Target – a forcewide campaign which aims to tackle serious and violent crime on Merseyside.

In the first three weeks since the operation started we have made over 100 arrests, carried out 331 stop searches and 243 open land searches and seized 97 weapons including numerous knives.

As part of our ongoing campaign people caught carrying knives are now also being issued with a warning notice when they are arrested.

The notices will act in a similar way to gun crime warnings, which are issued to those suspected of involvement in gun crime.

It is hoped that the notice will act like a ‘yellow card’ – warning people that they are being closely monitored and that officers are aware of their activities and will continue to gather intelligence on them to prevent reoffending.

The notices may also be issued on the back of information received into the force from members of the public.

Chief Inspector Andy Creer said: “Merseyside Police is committed to tackling knife related crime because we know the fear and worry it causes our communities.

“The knife crime notice does not replace any other measures we take to deal with the offence it just acts a reminder to the arrested person that we are taking notice of their behaviour and will act upon it.

“We know that simply arresting people is not enough. We also want to change people’s behaviour so in future they think twice before carrying a knife.

“We also want them to know that we are there to support them and that we can help them to turn their lives around if they choose to do so. If we can make just one person think of the consequences of their actions and to stop them from carrying a knife then this will be a success.”

If you have got information about who is carrying knives or where they are being stored DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.