PCC says: “We must do more to protect our communities from the heartbreak of knife crime"

Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts has called for renewed commitment to tackling knife crime, saying that while progress has been made, the recent spate of violent incidents in the city shows how much more must be done.

Her remarks come during national Knife Crime Awareness Week and the launch of Operation Sceptre — a coordinated week of action by police forces across England and Wales to tackle knife-related violence.

"We cannot ignore the devastation that knife crime brings — to families, to friends, and to entire communities," said the Commissioner. "Carrying a knife does not make you safer. It increases the risk for everyone, including the person carrying it. We must break this dangerous mindset that sees a weapon as a solution."

The Commissioner's comments follow four separate stabbings in Derbyshire within just 10 days — a deeply troubling period for local communities.

"My heart goes out to everyone affected by these recent incidents," said Nicolle. "These are not just statistics — these are lives forever changed. Behind every headline is a person, a family, a community left in pain."

While acknowledging that significant work has already gone into prevention — particularly education among young people — the Commissioner highlighted that the issue is not confined to youth alone.

"Too often, we focus on young people — and while that is important, it's not the whole picture. Some of those involved in knife crime are now adults who grew up in environments where carrying a knife was normalised. We have to reach them too."

She added: "Changing attitudes is crucial. Enforcement alone will not solve this — we must get to the root causes, whether that's poverty, mental health, addiction, or the influence of organised crime. And we can only do that by working together with schools, local services, health professionals, and communities."

Despite recent incidents, Derbyshire has seen a -10.9% reduction in knife crime in the past year, continuing a downward trend of -8.4% since December 2019.

"Of course, I welcome this progress," said the PCC. "But even one life lost or harmed is one too many. These figures mean little to the families grieving today."

Knife crime and Serious Violence — including Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) — are among six key priorities in the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan, shaped by public feedback.

A recent scrutiny meeting heard how Derbyshire Constabulary is using a whole-system approach, combining enforcement with education and early intervention, to tackle knife crime and prevent its spread.

"In Derbyshire, we may not face the same scale of violence as some other regions, but we are not untouched by it," said Nicolle. "Our officers are working tirelessly — conducting high-visibility patrols, targeting known offenders, and supporting those at risk of being drawn into violence."

She continued: "I want to thank those officers and our partners who are making a difference every day. But we must not let our guard down. We have a duty to protect our children, our neighbours, and our streets."

Derbyshire has received significant funding from the Home Office to support its Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and wider prevention work. In 2025-26, the Commissioner secured an additional £641,000 to expand these initiatives further.

"This funding is critical," Nicolle said. "It's helping us tackle knife crime from every possible angle — through education, community support, policing, and prevention. But until people feel truly safe in their communities, our work is not done."