The Police came in today with their Knife Crime Specialist to talk to the students about knife crime and to raise awareness about the dangers of carrying a knife. We spoke to the Chesterfield Safe Neighbourhood Team about Knife Crime Awareness Week and what they are doing to raise awareness in the community.
“We are here for national knife crime awareness week. We’re doing lots in the area as the Safe Neighbourhood Team. Yesterday we were out in the area doing test purchases with local shops and giving them advice on knife sales. Our Youth Engagement Team are visiting sixth forms, colleges, and schools to talk about the knife crime influx in classes too.”
The team have set up a table with a number of knife crime articles from previous years within the local area that students and staff could look through.
“We have some stories on knife crime cases from the past who have unfortunately been killed over the years through knife crime. The team have been doing knife sweeps this week as well, which is the police going out looking around parks and playgrounds looking in bushes etc. for knives. The police are trying to help the community and put confidence back in the community, talking about knife crime. It is a good thing to raise awareness on.”
Chesterfield has fewer knife crime incidents compared to neighbouring cities.
“Thankfully, in Chesterfield we don’t have a huge knife crime problem. Certainly not compared to some of the local cities, we have very few knife crime incidents. It’s more about raising awareness. Nottingham and Sheffield and certainly down in London and Manchester, have far greater issues with gang-related knife crime. It is a national week of awareness, but this is what we have planned this week in Chesterfield.”
Carrying a knife increases your chances of being killed by a knife by 100%.
“Don’t carry a knife. The best thing we say to people is if someone has a knife and they pull it out in front of you, the best thing to do is run. Never get involved. Ring the police. Get out the situation straight away. When it comes to carrying knife, it doubles your chance of being killed by a knife, you increase your chances to over 100% more likely. If you carry a knife, someone could turn it on you or the circles that you are hanging around with will also carry knives. They won’t be afraid to turn it on you if needs be”