WARRINGTON Wolves players will be joining Cheshire Police, circling the streets and visiting organisations around town this week, in bid to tackle knife crime in Cheshire.

You may see some of your favourite players out and about around the community as they work in partnership with Cheshire Constabulary on Operation Sceptre - a national effort aiming to reduce the impact of knife crime in communities.

Despite being the ninth lowest area in terms of knife crime statistics, the force remains determined to reduce the number of knives carried across the county, with efforts in tackling knife crime being intensified through initiatives that will be held across the county’s seven main regions during the week of action starting today, Monday.

Activities during the week-long operation will include community knife sweeps, the execution of warrants in relation to knife crime, engagement in the community, knife surrender bins being deployed across the region, and the stepping up of patrols in hotspot areas.

And retailers within the area will also be under a particular spotlight in the coming days, with officers set to conduct test purchase operations to ensure that potentially lethal weapons are not falling into the wrong hands.

Superintendent Andrew Blizard, the Constabulary's lead for Knife Crime, said: “In the past 12 months we have seen that crime involving knives has become a growing issue on the national stage, so participating in Operation Sceptre is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight the outstanding work our officers put in daily to keep Cheshire weapons-free.

“We are particularly proud that, when compared to our fellow home forces, knife crime in Cheshire remains low; but we are seeing a considerable number of people across the county in possession of knives and bladed weapons. This is something that we as a force will not tolerate.”

Over the next week, Cheshire Police has announced that residents can expect to see members of the Wolves squad out across the town with officers, engaging with members of the local community, visiting youth organisations, and engaging with young people at schools and colleges. 

Knife surrender bins will also be placed across the town, including one which will be placed outside of the Wolves’ home at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, for members of the community to voluntarily relinquish any unwanted knives or bladed articles.

Commenting on the new partnership with Warrington Wolves, superintendent Adam Ross, northern area commander for Warrington, said:

"This week of action, which is the start of a long-running collaboration between Cheshire Police and Warrington Wolves that will incorporate other aspects of community engagement and policing, is an opportunity to bring our partners together in the delivering of the message that no one needs to carry a knife to feel safe or protected on our streets. 

“Working with the Wolves will allow us to increase engagement and strengthen our relationship with the local community throughout Warrington, including with the younger generation. Over the next week, members of the Wolves team will be joining my officers on visits to schools, colleges and youth organisations to increase their engagement and build relationships with the police. 

"When it comes to issues as serious as knife crime, it is so important that everyone feels that they can come forward to us with any issues, so we can take immediate action.”

To report any type of crime involving weapons, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

Information can also be passed to the force online via cheshire.police.uk/ro/report.