Northampton Campaigners help tackle knife crime

School children have heard first hand accounts from paramedics attending teen stabbings, seen latest knife crime statistics, and been educated in knife law, in a series of hard-hitting educational sessions across Northampton.

Secondary schools across Northampton have signed up as part of the #SaveLivesNoKnives educational campaign, which aims to warn teens about the dangers of knife culture and of carrying a weapon. The programme began in September, and has already seen three secondary schools and over 240 students educated on the threats of knife crime and online exploitation, with at least five more schools set to take part by December.

A collection of knives - Isaac Warrington

Northampton International Academy is next on the list, where campaigners will lead three assemblies planned to take place across this month, as well as giving similar courses to the teachers. Sarah Fuller, a teacher at the academy, told the council how their student leaders have already attended council meetings discussing knife crime, and that they look forward to the upcoming sessions.

Northampton International Academy, the next site of the campaign – Isaac Warrington

Northampton police recognise that knife crime is on the rise. By the first five months of 2018 alone, police had seized 453 knives. By September, over 1,235 knife-related criminal incidents had taken place across both 2017/2018. This October alone, the Northants Proactive Team seized 13 bladed weapons, including 11 knives and a machete, a notable increase from September’s three knives seized. The team regularly comes across bladed weapons, ranging from kitchen knives and bladed tools, to machetes and combat knives, confiscated during stop searches and home raids.

Only this October, knife crime was announced as the subject for the Northamptonshire County schools challenge (NCSC), a competition that sees students across the area creating social enterprises, in order to support and educate others on important topics. This year’s challenge aims to prevent knife related crime and injury numbers, through raising awareness of the dangers of carrying a bladed weapon. PCSO Alex Franklin launched the topic during a talk at Kettering science academy, where he stressed how the rising incidences of knife crime among young people made secondary-age school children a key target audience.

Articles and images by Isaac Warrington