Knife Crime
There were around 46,000 offences involving a knife or bladed instrument in the year ending March 2020.
Knife crime is the most high profile form of serious youth violence. Despite tough enforcement measures designed to tackle it – including mandatory 5 year prison sentences for people who carry weapons - knife crime persists with often tragic consequences.
Carrying a knife makes someone more vulnerable
Overwhelmingly, young people tell us that they carry knives as they believe it affords them protection. However, the evidence does not back this up. In fact, it tells us carrying a weapon makes someone more vulnerable as it is likely to be used against them.
There is no safe place to stab someone
Contrary to what is often believed, there is no safe place to stab someone – any wound is potentially fatal despite where it is located on the body.
Help us end knife crime
Our work involves raising awareness and debunking myths around weapons with children across England and Wales. We work in schools and other similar settings using our professionally trained staff who have direct experience of knife crime – both as victims and perpetrators. Having been there themselves, they use their personal testimonies to expose the sobering reality of knife crime consequences and encourage young people to stay safe.
