Specialist Wiltshire Police team highlights anti-knife crime work

The work of frontline policing teams to tackle knife crime is being highlighted by the Wiltshire force.

Tasks can include acting on community intelligence, carrying out warrants, using stop and search, making arrests, seizing weapons and doing behind-the-scenes work to help reduce and prevent crime, including violent crime.



Wiltshire Police’s Improvement and Change department includes a youth and early intervention team who work closely with partners to speak directly to children, teenagers, parents, carers, schools and colleges.

Youth and Early Intervention supervisor Laura Schell said it was important to have a joined-up approach to prevent crime and keep young people safe.



She added: “The focus of my team is to identify vulnerability early, making sure the relevant support is put in place at the earliest opportunity, working with the young person and their family to stop issues escalating.



“Our team works closely with colleagues, schools and colleges, as well as other organisations, practitioners and groups that engage with young people.

"The aim is to raise awareness and provide training and support to ensure that the early indicators can be spotted and the right help is provided.



“This joined-up approach is a hugely successful way of getting to the root of a problem and, hopefully, reducing crime and vulnerability.”



Across the organisation, through early intervention and with more targeted approaches such as the Youth Restorative Intervention Panel, Wiltshire Police says it is committed to trying to divert young people away from the criminal justice system.



This can be achieved by working directly with young people themselves, such as through the Mini Police or Cadets schemes, or working with partners to raise awareness.

A example of this is Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner joining with the charity Fearless to host workshops to educate partners on signs of exploitation, and how each agency can contribute to the disruption of criminal activity.