Operation Sceptre (FOI ref: 724/26)

Request

How many weapons were seized/recovered from: a) stop and searches, b) searches requiring a warrant, c) amnesties, and d) weapon sweeps during the most recent Operation Sceptre campaign, held 17-23 November 2025?

Please note I am only seeking information of any weapons seized/ recovered during the period 17th November to 23rd November 2025.

Response

Unfortunately, we do not hold a breakdown as requested.

During this campaign, the force was required to submit a summary of outcomes for sceptre related activities to the Home Office. This included figures for different activity types (e.g. number of stop and searches and premises searches, engagement events etc.) The number of knives recovered though was recorded only as a total across all activity types and not broken down by each category.

However, we can confirm that a total of 23 knives were recovered during Operation Sceptre activity week in November 2025.

In relation to amnesties, while knife surrender bins are in place across the force area, they are emptied periodically and no specific data is held on items surrendered during this campaign.

"An abundance of funding and dedicated resources continue to be ploughed into reducing knife crime which remains a top priority for WMP. For many years WMP has seen some of the highest knife crime offences per 1,000 population. That has now changed, we no longer occupy that unenviable position as we continue to see sustained reductions. That’s down to some very intense work with our local partners and the support of the public.

The latest statistics serve to evidence the improvements people are seeing in their community. While recognising that any offence is one too many, people in the West Midlands are statistically now less likely to be a victim of crime.

It's essential that we all come together — police, schools, teachers, and parents — to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our young people."