PEOPLE who are willing to carry and use knives will be subject of a countywide crackdown this week as police launch Operation Sceptre.

From yesterday until Saturday, officers will be targeting criminals who carry knives and other bladed weapons by executing warrants, carrying out roadside checks and high-visibility patrols.

Operation Sceptre also aims to crack down on the supply, access and importation of weapons.

The crackdown marks part of the police’s ongoing work with partners to tackle gang crime and associated gang activity, as well as other violent crime, including domestic abuse.

Officers and special constables from local policing teams, the Operational Support Group and Operation Raptor teams, will be executing the warrants and carrying out the checks.

They will also be working with Trading Standards teams to raise awareness among shop owners about the importance of challenging underage customers and selling knives and bladed objects within the law.

Andy Prophet, assistant chief constable, said: “Carrying a knife or bladed item means that you could be on the receiving end of up to a four-year sentence.

“Essex Police takes a zero tolerance approach to the carrying of knives, and will go to every length possible to bring to justice those who commit knife crime.

“There is no place for knife crime on the streets of our county and if you do carry a knife illegally, rest assured my officers will be doing everything in their power to catch you and see justice served.

“Our commitment to tackling these offences will not stop once this week of activity has finished. Knife crime is one of our key priorities as a force and officers are working every day to tackle this issue head on.

“I would like to emphasise that the public have a major role to play in assisting our work tackling this crime. Often, members of the community will know who is carrying knives, and we urge them to share this information with us. We understand this might be an intimidating prospect, but we remind people it can be done anonymously via Crimestoppers.”