Eight Arrested and 39 Knives Seized in Devon and Cornwall Police Week

You probably walked past at least one of them without knowing.

Last week police across Devon and Cornwall pulled 39 knives out of circulation, made eight arrests and sent test purchasers into shops to see who would sell a blade to someone underage. The results say a lot about where the problem sits, and where it doesn’t.

What the week was about

The operation ran from Monday 18th to Sunday 24th May 2026 as part of Sceptre, a national knife awareness campaign led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. It forms part of a wider strategy to take dangerous weapons off the streets and keep communities safe.

Rather than enforcement alone, the week leaned heavily on prevention, education and working with retailers. That meant knife sweeps, test purchasing operations, stop and search activity, and education sessions in schools and communities running alongside the arrests.

The numbers

Across the force area, 39 knives were taken off the streets and eight arrests were made in relation to knife carrying or knife crime.

Officers carried out 27 test purchases in shops selling knives, and only two outlets failed. Those store owners were given advice about selling to under 18s, along with storage and safeguarding information. A further 58 retailers were visited to check they had the right checks in place when selling knives to under 18s.

There were also 27 educational events held at local schools and across communities during the week.

What the police said

Detective Inspector Kevin Morley, who led the operation, called it a successful week.

“It’s been a really successful week for us with a lot of positive engagement across the board, including with partners, in schools and with local retailers, as well as a significant number of knives being removed from circulation,” Kevin said.

He was keen to stress that the picture locally remains a positive one. “Whilst knife crime in Devon and Cornwall remains low, we support this national campaign whole-heartedly. It’s important that local knife retailers are aware of the law and the checks that should be carried out when selling knives.”

He also pushed back on the idea that carrying a knife offers any protection. “Some people think knife carrying will make them safer when the reality is that they are more likely to be injured with their own knife. There have been a number of serious incidents involving knives recently, but these are infrequent.”

Kevin added that the work continues because of the harm knife crime causes. “This emphasises the importance of our on-going efforts to remove knives from our streets, as we recognise the catastrophic impact on families who have been victims of knife crime.”

A personal reason to care

Becky Dustan, of the MIKES Trust charity, lost her brother Michael Riddiough-Allen following a knife attack in 2023. The trust, which stands for Michael’s Initiative for Knife crime Education in Society, was set up in his name to educate young people about knife crime.

“I know first-hand the trauma and pain of losing someone to a knife attack, having lost my brother, Michael, in 2023. It’s not something we’ll ever fully recover from,” Becky said. “We realise that education is key in preventing knife carrying and reducing knife crime, which is why we set up the trust in Michael’s name. We fully support the police’s efforts in this area.”

How to surrender a knife or report concerns

Knife surrender bins are now permanently in place at local police stations across the region, so anyone can hand in a knife safely and discreetly at any time. You can find your nearest bin on the Devon & Cornwall Police website.

If you have concerns about someone you know who carries a knife, or about knife crime in your community, you can report it to police. Information can also be passed anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111.

Retailers looking for guidance on selling knives can visit the National Business Crime Centre. More information for schools and young people is available at Not The One.