Are you concerned about a young person? Family, friends, teachers and role models are an important influence on a young person, and you can have a powerful effect. It might be a difficult conversation – but talking about knife carrying is critical to finding a solution. When you speak to a young person, it’s important to be clear that they have a choice, even when they think they may not.
How you can help
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Young people face all sorts of pressures. Finding out why they carry can help lead to a solution.
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Simply listening and giving time to a young person can encourage them to think about their decisions and behaviour.
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Teaching them the consequences of knife crime can also help them to understand that carrying a knife is not the answer.
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Making them understand how upset you’d be if they got caught with a knife or got injured could help them realise the impact their actions have on you and/or others.
Let the young person you speak to know…
That by carrying a knife, they:
- Have false sense of security.
- Could be increasing the risk of getting stabbed or injured.
- Are breaking the law.
That not carrying, and walking away from confrontation:
- Is the smart thing to do.
- Is the safer thing to do.
- Is the stronger thing to do.
Get help from one of our partners:
Help in your local area
Contact your local authority for a list of local parenting groups and organisations that can offer advice. For links to all local authority websites, please click on the button below.
Crimestoppers
If you suspect someone is carrying a knife or other offensive weapons, or have information about a crime, you can report it safely and anonymously to Crimestoppers.
NSPCC
The NSPCC helpline is a place adults can contact by phone or online to get advice or share their concerns about a child, anonymously if they wish.
_#knifefree resources
Are you a teacher or someone that works with young people? #knifefree has collaborated with the PSHE assocation to develop knife crime lesson plans for young people in KS3 and KS4. Click on the button below to find out more.
