About us 

Operation Blunt

Operation Blunt is one of the five strands of Safer Streets, a Thames Valley Police public campaign to make it safer to live and socialise in Thames Valley.

This operation focuses on tackling knife crime, challenging the knife crime culture, and reducing the number of people who carry knives on our streets.

Robin Gardner, Tackling Knife Crime coordinator for the Thames Valley, said: “If you carry a knife, you are running the risk of getting caught and put before a court and sent to prison for up to four years. People seem to think that carrying a knife keeps them safe. But, in fact, it could get used against them.”

Police use several prevention and enforcement techniques to tackle knife crime. These include:

• Using search arches to check if people have knives in their possession. These are similar to metal detectors used for security at airports. The search arches are used at schools, colleges, shopping centres and transport hubs, and other public places at random locations and times.
• Search arches are also used at knife crime ‘hotspots’ to catch and prosecute people who carry knives illegally.
• Adverts have appeared on bus shelters and other outdoor sites. These poster adverts feature Operation Blunt safety messages, such as ‘think this keeps you safe?’
• 'Stop and search' and 'stop and account'.

What you can do to help

• Report knife crime to Thames Valley Police on 101, our 24-hour non-emergency number. In an emergency, call 999. It is an emergency when a crime is being committed, there is a risk of injury, or there is a risk of serious damage to property.
• If you don't want to speak to police, you can give information anonymously to Crimestoppers about knife crime (opens new window).
• Visit the Directgov webpage ‘Keeping your child safe from knife crime (opens new window)’.
• If you know anyone who carries a knife, let them know about the dangers and the risks that they face. The knife could be used against them.
• Spread the word about what the police are doing with this operation. Point people to this webpage.
• Contact our Corporate Communications department on 01865 846 523 if you’d like to display Operation Blunt posters in prominent and relevant public places.

Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP)

The next phase of a programme to keep knives off Thames Valley streets is set to start following the announcement of further funding.

Already, thousands of students at dozens of schools and pupil referral units in Thames Valley have been told about the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife when they go out.

Now, an announcement that the nationwide Tackling Knives Action Programme will be extended means that students identified as being at risk of joining gangs or carrying knives could receive mentoring sessions from ex-offenders working with the New Destiny Trust.

Thames Valley is one of ten areas taking part in the Tackling Knives Action Programme. The programme, which began in June 2008, is delivering tough enforcement combined with education, prevention work and information campaigns designed to keep young people on the right track.

• About the Tackling Knives Action Programme (opens new window).

What the law says

The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, which came into force on 1 October 2007, states that:

• It is illegal to sell a knife or any item with a blade or point to a person under the age of 18.
• You must be 18 or over to buy or hire a crossbow. You must also be 18 to be in possession of a crossbow if you are not being supervised by an adult over 21 years old.

Read the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 in full (opens new window).

Visit the Directgov webpage ‘Knives and the law’ (opens new window) for more information.