Weapons ban welcomed as part of a wider package to halt weapons violence

St Giles welcomes the ban on zombie knives and machetes due to come into force next week (Tuesday 24 September 2024) but believes this needs to be part of a wider package of measures focussing on prevention, support and early interventions.

Following a year when there continues to be a depressing and tragic number of young lives lost to weapons, St Giles is redoubling its efforts to help stem the tide of violence, preventing future perpetrators and victims and providing intensive support for those already involved.

St Giles Chief Executive Tracey Burley said:

From inner cities to rural communities, weapons violence is now unfortunately shattering people’s lives across the UK. The ban is a step in the right direction, but we need to go much further and address the underlying issues which are driving weapons crime.  These include inequalities, exclusion from education and lack of opportunities – both real and perceived.  

She continued:  

Reversing the effects of years of public cuts on young people is going to take bold thinking and collaboration – sustained change is going to take time. But children listen to each other, and peer influence is one of the most powerful tools we have right now.  If we can get children to change their thinking and behaviour it will have a positive ripple effect amongst their peers and help reverse negative narratives around weapons.

St Giles provides a range of services which aim to prevent and address weapons violence.  They use trained professionals with lived experience of the issues facing the young people they support so they can become credible, authentic role models who really understand the lives of the people they support. 

These services include:

• One-to-one mentoring in schools with students identified as being at an increased risk so they can turn to their mentor – not a weapon – at times of risk.  The mentors provide ongoing emotional support alongside building confidence, aspirations and keeping them engaged with school. 

• Hospital-based caseworkers supporting children and young people admitted to hospital because of violence – last year, our teams in London and West Midland hospitals supported 1,210 young people and had a re-admission rate of between 4-5% against a national average of 30%. 

• Specialist support for girls and young women to prevent them from becoming groomed and exploited. This includes group sessions with girls at risk to help them build confidence and positive goals, alongside a mobile drop-in service from a van which parks up in areas where girls hang out.  

• Support for children and young people exploited through county lines drug gangs – the expansion of county lines has been a key driver in weapons crime.  St Giles works in partnership with other organisations to rescue exploited children and young people and bring them back safely to their home area whilst providing long-term support to keep them safe and positively engaged.