Wigan police pictured searching for hidden blades as knife crime crackdown continues

The searches have been mounted in Pemberton as part of the Greater Manchester force-wide Operation Sceptre which cracks down on the lethal use of blades.

Criminals often throw away knives after committing a crime and also stash them somewhere away from their homes so they can easily access them again when they plan further offences.

Officers are keen to retrieve any such weapons, not only to stop them being re-used by their owners, but also in case they fall into other people’s hands, including children who might injure themselves.

A spokesperson for GMP Wigan West said: “Officers from the Pemberton team have been searching open areas in the district looking for potential weapons that are hidden or discarded, objects that can be dangerous and talking to the public about Op Sceptre.”

GMP says it is committed to removing dangerous weapons from the city-region’s streets.