What is knife crime?
Knife Crime is any crime involving a knife or sharp object. This includes carrying a knife, owning a banned knife, trying to buy a knife if you are under 18, and/or threatening, injuring, or fatally wounding someone with a knife.
Self-defense or self-protection are NOT valid reasons for carrying a knife or offensive weapon.
Knife crime statistics:
- Despite a decrease in homicides in the 13-19 age group, teenagers remain twice as likely to be fatally stabbed than they were 10 years ago.
- 42 young people in 2023 died by being fatally stabbed, 2013 saw 20 deaths.
- 82% of homicides among teenage victims involve the use of a sharp knife or instrument, 41% for victims of all ages.
- Southwest police forces saw an 11% increase in knife or sharp instrument offences recorded (up to June 2024), Avon and Somerset police a 32% increase.
Whilst the overall figure for murders with a knife or sharp object has fallen, teenagers remain disproportionally affected by knife crime and face a higher risk of murder by knife attacks than any other age group.
(C/o Ben Kinsella trust and Office for National Statistics)
It is important to recognise that the number of young people carrying knives is extremely small, however they are probably some of our more vulnerable members of society. These young people are more likely to be regularly absent from education, be supported by a social worker, have had contact with the police and report that they have been in a gang.
(C/o Youth Endowment Fund)
Although more likely to result in injury or fatality evidence suggest that gang-related knife crime makes up only a small proportion of total knife crime with injury.
(C/o College of Policing)
What is a knife, sharp object and the law?
The following are banned weapons, this is not an exhaustive list (for further information see Weapon list Gov.UK), baton, cyclone knife, disguised knife, flick knife, knuckleduster and zombie knife.
It is illegal to:
- Use any knife or weapon in a threatening way.
- Carry most knives or any weapons in public without ‘good reason’.
- Carry a knife on behalf of someone else.
- Sell most knives to anyone under the age of 18.
Some weapons may be adapted e.g. a broken bottle, others misused e.g. a kitchen knife, spanner.
There are some variations in law between England, Scotland, and Wales. Carrying a knife unless the blade is less than 3 inches long and is a manual folding blade could carry a prison sentence of up to 4 years even if it is not used (in England and Wales, 5 years in Scotland).
Fact or myth?
- Carrying a knife provides a person with protection.
- Most young people carry knives.
- If it is illegal to carry a knife, then other sharp objects can be carried for protection.
- There are safe places on the body to stab someone.
Fact or myth?
- Myth: if you are carrying a knife, you are more likely to be hurt or threatened by someone else. People are often wounded by their own knife they were carrying putting then at greater risk.
- Myth: Social media gives us the impression that all young people carry knives. In fact 99% of young people do not carry knives.
- Myth: Even a door key being carried with the intention of using it in a threatening way could be classed as an offensive weapon.
- Myth: Any stab wound could be fatal.
(C/o Fearless)
Why do young people carry knives?
- For self-protection/defence.
- Out of fear.
- It is the norm amongst their peer group.
- They are involved in gang culture.
- It is the ‘fashion’.
- They are influenced by social media.
- Lived experiences e.g. homelife has modelled serious violence/use of knives.
There are several different reasons why young people carry knives however the most frequent reasons cited is for protection. Sadly statistics show that carrying a knife does not provide additional protection, but in fact can increase the danger.
What should school staff do?
Should school staff suspect or be informed that a young person is carrying a knife they must not put themselves or others at risk. If safe to do so:
- Headteachers and staff authorised by them have the power to search students for offensive weapons, with their consent. They also have the statutory power to search pupils or their possessions, without consent, where they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the pupil may have an offensive weapon. (See supporting resources below for further information)
- If unsafe call the police.
- There may be exceptional circumstances why a young person has a knife, if this is the case record decision and actions taken. However it would be advisable to contact your Safeguarding LA and police for further support and guidance.
- Practice your ‘ready for anything’ procedure.
Early intervention
Early identification of young people more vulnerable to serious violence/knife crime and providing preventative/strategic support can have very positive outcomes.
- Considering the ‘push/pull’ factors in a young person’s life, possible previous or current childhood trauma (ACEs) could help identify young people in a setting.
- Gathering individual and collective pupils voice is important.
- Where do young people feel safe/unsafe in school and local neighbourhood?
- Ensuring PHSE curriculum is suitable for needs of pupils.
- Explore with students ‘how to be an upstander’.
- Exploring the barriers to school attendance.
- Considering the increased risks to a young person facing fixed term or permanent exclusions.
School may want to consider exploring ways of early help support:
- The Adolescent Safety Framework (Devon)
- Youth Intervention or Youth Offending Teams
- Targeted group work such as intervention groups, assemblies, role model talks etc.
Resources
Charity that campaigns and educates young people against knife crime. Useful resources for teachers, parents and an interactive app available for young people.
Devon and Cornwall Police information site for professionals working with children and young people.
When to call the police guidance: School incidents, NPCC
Police guidance on when to call covering Assault, Criminal Damage, Harassment, Cybercrime, Drugs, Hate Crime, Sexual Offences, Theft, and Weapons.
Searching, screening and confiscation in schools
Guidance for schools from the DfE
Guidance from the DfE for schools on all aspects of site security including site lockdowns.
Additional resources on the OMG include links to a draft Lockdown policy and procedure, and NSPCC Run Hide Tell.
Contacts
Devon Front Door (formerly known as the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub or MASH):
Consultation line – 01392 388 428
Main telephone including emergencies or Early Help – 0345 155 1071
E-mail – mashsecure@devon.gov.uk
Request for Support Form – DCC – Request for support (outsystemsenterprise.com)
Children’s Social Care Emergency Duty Team (out of hours) – 0845 6000 388
Police (non-emergency) – 101
Please refer to your Local Authority Safeguarding Partnership for specific resources, threshold tools and assessment to support the identification of and the support provided for cases of neglect.
Further reading
Gov.UK Multi-agency responses to serious youth violence: working together to support and protect children