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More than 600 knives surrendered in Suffolk police amnesty

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Suffolk residents handed in over 600 knives during a week-long amnesty as part of a police operation targeting knife crime. Operation Sceptre also saw three shops fail age verification checks for knife sales.

Why it matters: The amnesty bins, placed across Suffolk, give people a safe way to dispose of unwanted or illegal weapons anonymously, helping to reduce the number of knives on the streets.

The big picture: Operation Sceptre ran from 11 to 17 November, combining enforcement with education and prevention. The operation included test purchases, high-visibility patrols, community engagement, and weapon sweeps.

Key findings:

  • Over 600 knives recovered from amnesty bins

  • Only 5 knife-related arrests during the week

  • 20 weapon sweeps conducted with no knives found

  • 3 out of 26 retailers failed underage sales checks

What they're saying: "Suffolk is a safe county to live and we were proud to see the low numbers of people carrying knives," said Sergeant Jamie Vincent. "This doesn't make us complacent; it is important that tackling knife crime remains a force priority."

Notable case: One of the five knife-related arrests led to a charge. Xander Butler, 21, from Lackford Place in Ipswich, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and two counts of assault by beating of a police officer at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on 15 November.

Public appeal: Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore stressed the importance of community involvement: "We will only make a difference if we work together."

The bottom line: While the high number of surrendered knives shows public willingness to support knife crime initiatives, failed retailer checks highlight ongoing challenges in preventing access to weapons.

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Farage more trusted than Starmer in East of England, latest poll finds

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is more trusted to represent the UK internationally than PM Keir Starmer among East of England voters, new polling reveals.

Why it matters: The findings highlight a significant decline in trust for the main party leaders in the region less than a year after the general election.

The poll, conducted by communications agency PLMR and Electoral Calculus, shows Farage ranked highest among named leaders at 19% in the East of England, ahead of Sir Keir Starmer (13%), Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (6%) and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey (5%).

Nigel Farage
Nigel FarageAlamy

The bigger picture: One in three voters (33%) in the region responded "none of the above" when asked which political figure they would trust most, suggesting a broader decline in overall trust in UK political leaders.

By the numbers: The same poll indicates Reform UK would become the largest party in the region if an election were held tomorrow:

  • Reform: 21 seats

  • Conservatives: 10 seats

  • Labour: 4 seats

  • Liberal Democrats: 2 seats

  • Greens: 1 seat

In contrast: Nationally, Farage and Starmer are tied at 16% among those who named a preference, highlighting a more polarised national picture, with the Reform UK leader building more trust with voters in the East of England specifically.

What they're saying: "This polling highlights a significant decline in trust for the two main party leaders among East of England voters when it comes to representing the UK on the international stage," said Tim Miller , Managing Director of PLMR Genesis , the East of England branch of PLMR.

Reform and Nigel Farage have seemingly been able to capitalise on this and it's now translating into voting intentions, with the Party set to overtake Labour and the Conservatives in the region with the largest number of seats – a seismic political shift.

Between the lines: The poll suggests Reform would make strong gains across the region, potentially taking seats from both major parties:

  • Suffolk: Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket from Labour

  • Essex: Braintree from the Conservatives and Thurrock from Labour

  • Cambridgeshire: North East from the Conservatives and North West from Labour

  • Norfolk: North West from the Conservatives and South West from Labour

Tim Miller on a backdrop of Ipswich from above and political party colour overlays
Tim Miller of PLMR GenesisOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The national outlook: The survey of 5,180 adults showed Reform securing 25% of the vote share nationally, compared to 23% each for Labour and the Conservatives. This would translate to 227 seats for Reform, 180 for Labour and 130 for the Conservatives.

The bottom line: "If Labour wants to keep Reform at bay, hold onto the gains they made in the East of England and remain in government in four year's time, the Party needs to focus on getting their message across more clearly to voters and instil confidence in their domestic agenda," Miller concluded.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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