We welcome today’s news from the Government underlining a renewed commitment to tackling knife crime. One child harmed or killed is one too many, and we support measures that aim to bring these devastating tragedies to an end.
Richard Knibbs, Executive Director of Services at St Giles, said:
It is particularly encouraging that the Government recognises the vital role of prevention and support alongside enforcement. Enforcement alone cannot deliver lasting change. Without addressing the underlying drivers of violence, we risk simply responding to harm rather than preventing it.
At St Giles, our experience delivering early intervention programmes shows that tackling root causes is critical. We provide intensive mentoring to children at risk, drawing on trained professionals with lived experience to build trust, credibility and meaningful engagement — often reaching young people who are least likely to engage with traditional services.
We deliver this work across England and Wales, including in both London and the West Midlands, where sustained collaboration and focused effort have contributed to recent reductions in knife crime. This must remain a long-term, partnership-driven priority.
Further reading:
https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/what-we-do/violence-exploitation/hospital-work/
https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/what-we-do/violence-exploitation/trusted-adult-mentoring/
https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/what-we-do/violence-exploitation/county-lines-and-modern-slavery/