Police officer who started project to tackle knife crime running marathon in aid of Aylesbury-based youth charity
A police officer who started a project to tackle knife crime is running this year’s Milton Keynes Marathon in aid of an Aylesbury-based youth charity.
PC Kevin Simmons was the driving force behind launching Operation Detect in 2024, which tackles knife crime through prevention and education.
As part of the operation, PC Simmons and colleagues have visited secondary schools across Milton Keynes.
Thousands of students have so far passed through screening arches to check they are not in possession of weapons, while officers have provided helpful safety advice to students.
PC Simmons, who is the city’s Safer Schools Officer, said that away from work he had ‘caught the running bug’, and is preparing to run his first marathon at this year’s Milton Keynes edition, being staged in the city on Monday May 4.
He is running in aid of Action4Youth, a charity whose headquarters are located in Aylesbury, which aims to help young people’s development and them to be the best version of themselves.
PC Simmons said: “I first caught the running bug about two years ago, when my wife convinced me to join her and a group of friends for park runs.
“What started as a fun Saturday morning meet‑up quickly became something I looked forward to.
“We pushed each other to improve, chased better times, and gradually built up to longer distances. It turned into a great mix of fitness, motivation, and social time.
“The training has been tough, especially getting the long runs done through the cold, dark, winter months.
“Preparing for a marathon demands a huge amount of time and consistency and balancing that with work and looking after my kids has been a real challenge.
“But despite the gruelling schedule, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and I’m determined to see it through.”
PC Simmons has currently raised £280 towards his £500 target and is best known for launching the Operation Detect scheme across Milton Keynes.
Speaking about the initiative he added: "During the 2024 Knife Crime Awareness Week, I was asked to develop my department’s contribution to the national campaign.
“I wanted to create something that would not only deter young people from carrying knives but also open conversations around education and prevention.
“There were understandable concerns that using a screening arch in a school might give the impression that a particular school had a problem.
“To avoid that misconception, I designed Operation Detect as a long‑term, local initiative that would be delivered, across all secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
“This ensured the focus remained on prevention, consistency, and community reassurance rather than singling out any one school.
“The feedback has been extremely positive. Students have told us they feel safer knowing we’re there, and several have even thanked us for being present.
“Staff have also welcomed the operation, recognising it as a proactive and sensible response to a national issue. The support from the school communities has reinforced that this approach is both valued and impactful.”
Since its launch, Operation Detect has engaged with 13,750 students across 12 locations, either through the screening arch or educational input.
Several additional deployments of Operation Detect are planned during the remainder of the school year.
Action4Youth’s chief executive Benedicta Morrow said: “We’re delighted that Kevin has chosen to support Action4Youth by running the Milton Keynes Marathon, as a charity supporting 25,000 local children and young people.
“With startling youth mental health and child poverty figures in the region, never has the need been greater.
“All funds raised by Kevin will be used to support our work with young people in Milton Keynes, for our anti-knife/gang crime, skills development and mental wellbeing programmes.”