A SPECIALIST police team is aiming to combat knife crime in Colchester by working with retailers to ensure they do not sell bladed articles to people who could look to misuse them.

The Business Crime Team (BCT), which visited shops including Robert Dyas, Sainsbury’s, and TK Maxx, launched its Responsible Retailers campaign on Tuesday as it sought an agreement with shops on selling knives responsibly.

In particular, the Business Crime Team – which consisted of officers Ash Sandford, Alex Plakhtienko, Michael Kearley, and Christian Denning – continued a concerted effort to take dangerous weapons off the streets.

According to Sergeant Christian Denning, most knife crimes in Essex are committed using bladed articles which are taken from households.

Gazette: Team – Ash Sandford, Alex Plakhtienko, Michael Kearley are part of the Business Crime TeamTeam – Ash Sandford, Alex Plakhtienko, Michael Kearley are part of the Business Crime Team (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Now, the intention is to ensure retailers know they can refuse sales to anyone if there is a concern a knife could be misused.

Sgt Denning said: “The most knife crime we have to deal with involves household knives – we had the Knife Angel in the city centre and, if you look at it, most of the knives it is made from are kitchen knives.”

Although the BCT regularly works with trading standards, Sgt Denning explained the force is now making the work more visible through the Responsible Retailers Campaign.

He continued: “In one case, a woman who walked into a shop and was clearly very upset bought a knife before committing self-harm.

“This is about retailers having the understanding that they can refuse sale to anyone who appears intoxicated or could commit potential assaults.

Gazette: Safe – Alex Plakhtienko, Michael Kearley are helping to keep the streets of Colchester safe as part of the team at Essex PoliceSafe – Alex Plakhtienko, Michael Kearley are helping to keep the streets of Colchester safe as part of the team at Essex Police (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

“Often, it goes beyond knives – some shops are at the point where they have to put balaclavas at the back of the store, which can happen in extreme cases.

“If this campaign can help stop that happening on one occasion I will be a very happy chap.”

The campaign has already been run in London by the Metropolitan Police, and with the campaign having now started in Colchester, Sgt Denning hopes it could be launched county wide, even if eradicating the problem entirely could prove a huge challenge.

“Deep down, we all know it’s very hard to completely eradicate a problem,” he said.

“If we can reduce, then I will take that.”