Thames Valley Police says action on knife crime is yielding results.

KNIFE crime has fallen by nine per cent in the Thames Valley, according to the latest Government figures.

To mark Knife Crime Awareness Week (May 19 to 25), Thames Valley police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber says he will continue to prioritise the tackling of violent crime.

There were 1,067 knife-related incidents in 2024 compared with 1,179 in 2023, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Thames Valley Police says it has joined the national focus on tackling knife crime by continuing patrols of areas previously linked to offenders, carrying out weapon sweeps in public spaces and promoting the 33 amnesty bins in police stations and other locations, providing the opportunity for members of the public to dispose of knives and bladed articles in a safe and legal way.

Mr Barber said: “Knife-enabled crime is decreasing in the Thames Valley, which is encouraging however, we can’t be complacent.

“This is a testimony to the excellent work taking place by the force and with our partner organisations, to raise awareness, prevent and tackle knife crime and violence more generally.

“Knife crime remains a top priority and has a devastating impact on individuals and communities.

“Although the figures in the Thames Valley are going in the right direction, we know this is an issue that needs continued focus if we are to see reductions over the long term.”

The project, ‘Op Deter,’ completed its rollout in the whole of Thames Valley in December 2024.

For adults, it is a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime, seeking swift charge and remand decisions to those who carry knives.

For children and young people Op Deter Youth seeks earlier and intensive intervention through local Youth Offending Teams to divert those caught with knives from the criminal justice system and prevent further offending.

It begins while the young person is still in custody to look at the root causes of offending, determine if they are being exploited and encourage them to engage to break the cycle of offending.

This is part of a wider Thames Valley strategy to prevent violence and use of offensive weapons with a strong focus on prevention delivered by Justice Youth Services under the Act Now pathway.