Police in Bulwell stopping suspicious cars as part of new operation

Officers stopped eight vehicles on the first day, Monday, April 26, and spoke with the drivers about the reason they'd been stopped as part of Nottinghamshire Police's proactive approach to knife crime.

Officers were also looking out for other driving offences, including drink driving, speeding, driving whilst using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt.

During the patrols, a car was seized by officers after its female driver was found to only have a provisional licence and no insurance.

Christine Busuttil, neighbourhood policing inspector for City North, said: "This proactive work is so important and this is a great example on how we will act on the information we receive and any intelligence that might come through to us.

"Speaking to those who may be at risk of being involved in knife crime at the earliest opportunity is key to reducing it and preventing it, and this is the reason why we conduct these operations and won't hesitate to make stops as a result of this.

"A woman who was driving illegally was also stopped in her tracks.

"She hadn't yet passed her test and was driving alone on a provisional licence, meaning she was also uninsured.

"This not only posed a danger to other road users but also could have been expensive for them if an accident was to have happened.

"Our officers are committed to keeping Nottinghamshire, and its roads, safe, whether it's during a national week of action or not, and we encourage anyone with concerns or information to get in touch with their local policing team on 101."

Operation Sceptre is just a snapshot of the ongoing year-round work carried out by Nottinghamshire Police and its community partners to tackle knife crime..

The latest official figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that knife crime has continued to fall in Nottinghamshire, reducing by four per cent in the year end to September 2020 compared to the previous year.