OVER the past week, police forces up and down the country have been getting tough on knife crime as part of Operation Sceptre.
This campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangerousness of knife crime and highlight the consequences of carrying a knife.
The issue is particularly pertinent in Berkshire as a number of stabbings have been recorded in the county since the start of 2022.
Here’s what we know so far about each one.
Ki Alvis of Lee, of Carey Road, Wokingham, was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison this week after stabbing two clubbers in the early hours of February 13, 2022.
The 23-year-old stabbed Rowan Noone in the neck and the victim had two spend two days in hospital in intensive care.
Noone’s friend, Oliver Vickers, was slashed with Lee’s knife after confronting the weapon-wielder.
Two men have denied charges related to a reported stabbing at a pub in Tilehurst, Reading in February.
Daniel Parker, 29, of no fixed abode, and Andrew Parker, 37, of Thatcham, were accused of wounding with intent after a man was allegedly attacked at The Victoria on Norcot Road on February 12.
The victim, a man in his thirties who had been drinking at the pub, was treated for serious, but not life-threatening, injuries in hospital.
Just before 5pm on Saturday, February 12, the punter was drinking when he got into an argument with another man.
The victim then moved outside the pub when two men arrived and started fighting the victim.
The man, in his thirties, was stabbed and the offenders fled towards Armour Road.
A provisional trial date has been set for a 15-year-old Slough boy charged with murder following a stabbing in Langley
The accused boy was charged after 18-year-old Abdul Aziz Faiz Ansari was stabbed to death on Trelawney Avenue in Langley on May 5, 2022.
A post-mortem examination concluded Abdul’s cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.
The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon on May 9.
The boy did not enter a plea to either charge.
Two teenage males who were also arrested in connection with the murder have now been released on police bail.
Police officers were given greater powers to prevent violent crime after a man was stabbed in Whitley.
This incident occurred on Saturday, May 7, at around 3.10pm when a man in his twenties was approached by a balaclava-clad offender who had some stolen items in his possession.
During their interaction, the man sustained stab wounds.
In response to this incident, Thames Valley Police officers were granted section 60 powers.
This meant officers were allowed to stop and search anyone within Whitley.
A man has been charged after a stabbing near Reading in April.
Jordan Musa, of London Road, Earley, has been charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
This comes following an incident in which the 27-year-old is alleged to have stabbed a man in the chest.
The incident occurred in east Reading on Saturday, April 9.
Musa was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
He appeared at Reading Crown Court on May 18 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
A man from Reading has been charged with several offences after a member of the public was stabbed in the leg.
Thomas Lynn-Absolom, of Stanhope Road, in Reading, was charged on Monday, April 11.
Thames Valley Police said the 18-year-old suspect was charged with Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a bladed article and affray.
Officers said the charges are in connection with two incidents that happened on April 8 and 9 in Kings Meadow in Reading.
Police said during the first incident, a man was seen threatening members of the public with a knife.
On the following day, the force said a member of the public was stabbed in the leg.
Police reported that the victim suffered injuries but they are not life-threatening.
Lynn-Absolom was arrested on Sunday and charged the following day.
He appeared at Reading Crown Court on May 16.
Repeated stabbings in a robbery
A man was stabbed repeatedly in a robbery in Reading earlier this month.
The victim, in his 20s, was sitting in the park behind Linden Road when he was approached by an unknown man between 2.30 and 3.30pm on May 7.
The man then stabbed the victim before taking his backpack containing bank cards, cash and house keys.
The attacker then fled the scene towards South Whitley.
According to police, the victim suffered stab wounds to his back, elbow and stomach and required hospital treatment but has since been discharged.
Detective Constable Rebecca Oliver, based at Reading police station, said: “I am appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about this incident to please come forward.
“To contact us, call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43220187144.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here