Schools receive anti knife crime lessons
Teenagers will be given anti-knife lessons to reduce the risk of violence during the summer holidays.
Almost 50,000 secondary school teachers have been given lesson plans that will help them teach the consequences of carrying a knife.
The lessons, taught through personal, social and health education classes, come as part of the Home Office’s £40 million serious violence strategy that seeks to tackle the rise of violence among young people.
Latest figures show knife crime rose 22 per cent last year.
Crime Minister Victoria Atkins said: “The summer holidays can pose additional dangers to young people, which is why we are determined to do everything we can to keep them safe and give them tools and resilience they need to enjoy the summer break.
“We need everyone to work together to tackle the rise in serious violence and I thank every teacher who takes the time in their busy schedule to deliver these vital lessons to their students.”
The new lessons will be provided to teachers and specialist organisations that work with 11 to 16-year-olds, and will focus on how carrying a knife will impact on young people’s futures.
Almost 40,000 crimes involving knives or sharp instruments were recorded last year, following concerns over the level of knife crime among teenagers.
Earlier this year the homicide rate in London – mostly a result of knife crime – temporarily overtook figures in New York.
Children’s Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “These lesson plans will help illustrate the real impact of knife crime on young people’s lives. It’s heartening to know schools up and down the country are taking advantage of them.”