Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025 is an opportunity to think about the impact of knife crime and why action must take place immediately. Across the UK, vulnerable young people continue to be affected, and their lives trapped by fear, violence, and unpredictability.
At St Giles, we help prevent young people from becoming involved and support those at the highest risk, helping them make positive change.
Harj’s story is one of resilience and courage.
Harj’s Story:
One evening near his home, he was seriously attacked. During his stay in hospital, the St Giles team stepped in and helped to get him into secure accommodation so he would not be returned to violence. Having been rejected by his local authority initially, we were not about to give up, recognising that no young person should be denied a safe place to call home. With the assistance of work support, guidance, and mentoring, Harj began to turn his life around. He began looking for employment, reunited with his family and slowly, he grew strong, gaining confidence in himself to move forward.  Â
In the year to March 2024, more than 3,200 knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children were addressed through a sentence or caution. Tragically, in the last year, 32 children were murdered by knife attacks in England and Wales. These figures demonstrate why there must be immediate action, not just to assist the victims but to discourage young people from ever being involved in knife crime at all.
More than 3,200 knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children
At St Giles, we have been addressing knife crime since 2006 – working with individuals, local communities and at a national level. From 2023-2024, our early intervention activities successfully worked with more than 1,350 children and young people aged 11-25, providing them with critical support to remain safe from knife crime and towards safer futures. Our work extends beyond case-by-case interventions – we work in schools, hospitals, and communities, teaching and informing to prevent violence before it occurs.
Young people use knives out of fear, and at St Giles, we provide positive alternatives that counter dangerous narratives. Our highly qualified staff, many with lived experience of being both victims and perpetrators of knife crime, work directly with young people and provide mentorship and advice that can change lives.
Our work at the Royal London Hospital involves working with victims of knife crime, with support that is aimed at keeping them safe and moving forward. This has reduced re-admissions to 7% against a 30% average for this age group, showing the difference such projects can make.
With the right guidance and support, young people can create brighter futures free from violence.
This Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025, we call on everyone to join us to raise awareness in delivering early intervention and protecting vulnerable young people. We can all play a part in safeguarding young lives, creating safer communities and stopping the cycle of violence.