News / knife crime
Knife crime figures falling
There has been a 18 per cent reduction in recorded knife crime in the past 12 months according to reports from Avon and Somerset Police.
They say that increasing education around knife crime, along with increasing ‘prevention messaging’, is helping to reduce the figures of reported crime.
Avon and Somerset Police believe that knife crime across the South West is preventable “if we come together as a society to raise awareness, create safe spaces for children to voice their concerns and experiences and make it increasingly harder for people to carry knives.”
is needed now More than ever
The public raised pleas to stop knife crime at Max Dixon’s and Mason Rist’s memorial in Knowle West – photo: Mia Vines Booth
The police say they are working year-round with charities and partner agencies to help educate young people about the risks of offences.
Detective chief inspector Lucy Edgeworth, who has recently been appointed as Avon and Somerset Police’s knife crime lead, said: “We’ve seen in recent years how young people carrying knives has had fatal consequences, needlessly tearing families apart and increasing fear in our communities.
“The latest knife crime figures suggest that our combined efforts to reduce violent crime, with partners and the public, are working.
“But this is a long-term challenge – and we must not become complacent.
“We’ll continue focusing our resources on addressing the root causes of serious violence, from early education and intervention strategies that empower children to make safe choices, to tackling the accessibility of weapons and holding retailers to account for unlawfully selling blades to under-18s.
“As a mother of teenagers, a detective and now the knife crime lead for the force, I’m determined to do all we can to prevent further harm to children and the wider community.”
On Monday, a national week of action was launched to raise awareness of knife-related violence.
The movement, labelled ‘Sceptre week’, is being regarded as an opportunity to “reinforce the profound and life-changing impact of carrying a knife.”
Sceptre week is a nationwide campaign to reduce knife crime – photo: Merseyside Police
The force has collaborated with community interest company Unique Voice on a new short film, Safer Together, that is being rolled out nationally for schools and community organisations.
Krystal Keeley, the director at Unique Voice, said: “This is Bristol creativity at its best – using storytelling, empathy and collaboration to address one of the most pressing issues facing young people today.
“We’ve seen first-hand the power of giving young people a platform to lead change, and now we’re proud to share this approach with communities nationwide.”
Avon and Somerset Police are also adding measures like patrols, ‘knife sweeps’ and pop-up information stands in attempts to further reduce reported crime figures.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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