Knife crime is a problem which affects us all – whether we have been directly impacted or not and regardless of where we live in the UK. Alongside the devastating human tragedies it brings, it costs society and blights local communities.
Therefore, we warmly welcome Protecting Lives, Building Hope – the Government’s recently launched plan to half knife crime in the UK within a decade.
The four pillars of this plan – Support, Stop, Police and End – represent a multi-faceted approach involving collaboration across sectors such as education, health, law enforcement, and community organisations.
We are particularly encouraged to see that investment in multi-agency approaches is integral to this plan. No single agency or organisation has all the answers to such a complex, challenging problem. Areas which have adopted such partnerships through Violence Reduction Units – which bring together local providers to deliver relevant, informed solutions – have a proven track record of reducing knife crime.
Junior Smart, Founder of our SOS Project which forms the foundation of St Giles’ work addressing child criminal exploitation, respond to the plan here.
At St Giles Trust, we work alongside children, families, and communities affected by serious violence every day. We see both the human cost of harm and the potential for change when the right support is in place. The strategy’s emphasis on early intervention, partnership working, and targeted support for those most at risk reflects what evidence and frontline practice have consistently shown: that violence is preventable when systems act early, consistently, and together.
We particularly welcome the continued investment in Violence Reduction Units and the recognition of public health approaches to violence. There is a growing body of evidence, including findings from the Youth Endowment Fund, which highlights that interventions grounded in trusted relationships, mentoring, and targeted support can reduce involvement in violence, especially when focused on those at highest risk. The emphasis on schools, trusted adults, and community-based provision is therefore both timely and necessary.
Our experience also shows that effective prevention is rarely the result of a single intervention. It is built through consistent relationships, clear communication between agencies, and sustained engagement over time. Many of the young people we support are navigating complex experiences of exploitation, trauma, and coercion. In these contexts, behaviour that may appear as risk-taking or non-compliance is often shaped by fear, loyalty, or survival. Responses that recognise this complexity are more likely to achieve lasting change.
We recognise the importance of the strategy’s focus on enforcement and reducing access to weapons, alongside prevention. However, we also know that long-term reductions in violence depend on the strength of the relationships surrounding a young person. Trust, once lost, is difficult to rebuild. Where services are able to remain consistent, relational, and responsive, we see better engagement, fewer escalations, and improved outcomes.
We also welcome the recognition of the role of families and the need to strengthen support around them. Families are often managing significant challenges alongside the impact of exploitation and violence. Supporting them effectively is a critical part of prevention and recovery.
As this strategy moves into delivery, we believe there is a strong opportunity to:
- continue embedding lived experience within frontline practice – strengthening credibility and engagement,
- support the workforce with the training, time, and resources needed to build and sustain trusted relationships
- ensure that systems are able to accurately interpret and respond to the lived reality of young people, particularly in cases involving exploitation and coercion.
We know that progress in this area is rarely immediate. It requires persistence, coordination, and a shared commitment across agencies. Where these conditions are in place, change is possible.
Reducing violence requires more than systems and structures alone; it depends on relationships that young people recognise as safe, consistent, and worth trusting.
We look forward to continuing to work with partners across the country to support the delivery of this strategy, contributing insight from frontline practice and helping to develop approaches that not only reduce violence, but build safer, stronger communities for the future.
Further reading
https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/st-giles-welcomes-government-progress-on-tackling-county-lines/