We supported national week of action to tackle knife crime
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
We joined forces with Bedfordshire Police and other partner agencies at the end of May to support Operation Sceptre, a national campaign aimed at tackling knife crime and keeping communities safe.
As part of the week of action, our Community Safety Team organised weapons sweeps across the area. Joined by police officers and PCSOs, the team searched areas in Leighton Buzzard, Shefford, Clifton, Flitwick, Houghton Regis, Sandy, Biggleswade and Dunstable, checking for knives or weapons that may have been discarded or hidden for future use.
No weapons were found during the sweeps; a positive sign that these areas are currently clear of dangerous items. Weapons sweeps are a vital part of the enforcement activity, as they help take hidden weapons off the streets and show that action is being taken to keep the community safe.
Alongside enforcement activity, we also ran an engagement event alongside Bedfordshire Police and Healthwatch, to talk to young people about knife crime, wider community safety issues and gave them an opportunity to speak up about concerns in their community.
Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Community Safety said:
Tackling knife crime takes a whole-community approach, and Operation Sceptre is a great example of how we can work together with other partner agencies. Even though no weapons were found in the recent sweeps, this is a good thing and means our public spaces are safer. Engaging with young people is equally important; they are the future of Central Bedfordshire, and we need to make sure they know that carrying a knife is never acceptable and never the answer.