More than 700 knives emptied from bins in Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire during crackdown
Police have been scouring parks, emptying special bins, deploying knife detection arches and visiting schools as part of a new push to tackle knife crime. Now results are in.
More 700 knives have been taken off the streets across Lancashire’s South Division as part of Sceptre, a national week-long initiative to tackle knife crime which took place between Monday 18th – Sunday 24th May 2026.
Officers from South Division, which covers the areas of Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire, carried out a range of both operational and proactive engagement work throughout the week.
Operational activity included:
- 24 test purchase visits to check retailers are complying with legislation and not selling knifes to those under the age of 18. 20 stores passed the test. Four sold knives to children and will now be dealt with jointly by police and trading standards.
- Deployment of the knife detection arch at various places across West Lancashire, including shopping centres.
- Numerous weapon sweeps in local parks and public spaces to make sure areas are safe for the local community.
- School inputs to raise awareness of the impact of carrying a knife, engaging with children from multiple school across South Division.
Officers also engaged with the community through educational talks, community visits and leaflet drops. The knife surrender bins across South Division were emptied, in which 736 knives were recovered.
Sergeant Rachel Killinger from Lancashire’s Violence Reduction Network said:
“Our officers work tirelessly throughout the year to combat knife crime and make it clear that it has no place in South Lancashire. We will continue to work closely with our partners, engaging with communities and raising awareness to help prevent knife crime, while taking firm action with a zero-tolerance approach against those involved. If you are aware of anyone carrying a knife, you can report it anonymously through Crimestoppers.”
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, added: “No one should have to live in fear of dangerous weapons in their community. Education about the risks and realities of carrying a knife, combined with strong enforcement against those who break the law and endanger others, is essential.
"I commend everyone involved for their continued efforts to remove knives from our streets and keep our communities safe.
"I would encourage anyone who has information or concerns to come forward and report either to the police or anonymously via CrimeStoppers. As Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to support the Violence Reduction Network as it works with partners to take meaningful action to prevent and reduce serious violence.”
You can find your local knife surrender bins here Knife Bin Locations - Lancashire Violence Reduction Network