Justice Minister David Hanson has praised a pioneering project designed to make Liverpool’s young knife crime offenders face the consequences of their actions and prevent reoffending during a visit to the city.
Mr Hanson spent time at the Liverpool Youth Offender Service’s Knife Referral Programme to see how it helps young people turn away from knife crime after experiencing first-hand the shattering effect it has on victims, their families and local communities.
From October last year, under-18s caught carrying a weapon in Liverpool must attend the hard-hitting programme as part of the government’s action plan to tackle knives, during which they must face mothers who have lost their children through knife crime and see for themselves the horrific injuries that knives cause.
Mr Hanson said:
‘Too many young people are being injured or killed on our streets. We are determined to put a stop to the devastating effect knife crime can have on young lives across Britain.
‘The government’s Tackling Knives Action Programme has focused over £5 million of resources on rapid and targeted work to tackle teenage knife crime. It has accelerated educational programmes to stop young people becoming involved in knife crime in the first place.
‘Liverpool Youth Offending Service is leading the fight against knife crime by working closely with schools to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives – making it clear that a knife makes you less safe, not more, and could easily be used against you. Although still new, this programme is showing real signs that it is turning young people in Liverpool away from knife crime.’
These programmes show young people that knives put them in danger and that knife crime has a devastating effect on the community in which they live.
The eight-week Liverpool Youth Offender Service Programme forces youths to face:
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an ex-offender, who has been convicted of knife crime, talking about the consequences of his actions
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a nurse from Royal Liverpool University hospital showing real life images of horrific knife injuries
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mothers, who have lost children through knife crime, discussing the effects of knife crime on victims.
One local youngster, Jamie, 16, who had completed the programme, said:
‘Since I finished the programme I haven’t carried a knife. It scares me to think that there are people out there who want to hurt me. But it’s even scarier knowing that by carrying a knife, there is a real chance that I could end up using it on someone, or that someone could take it off me, and use it on me. The programme really made me think.
‘A big part of the reason why I’m not locked up, or dead, is because I was forced to consider the harm that knife crime causes to the community.’
Notes to editors
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To combat the use of knives among young people, in June 2008 the government announced measures against knife crime as part of the Tackling Knives Action Programme. A number of initiatives were introduced in 10 hotspot police force areas including Merseyside. In November four more were added as second tier forces – Bedfordshire, Northumbria, South Yorkshire and British Transport Police which included the introduction of Knife Referral Schemes. The Knife Referral Schemes were piloted in 12 Youth Offender Teams within 10 police force areas; Liverpool Youth Offender Service being one of the pilot areas.
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The government recently announced that from 1 April 2009 the Tackling Knives Action Programme will continue for a further year with an extra £5 million to tackle knife crime and increase targeted police action to tackle a minority of young people who commit serious violence. In addition to the current 14 forces, TKAP will be extended to include Kent and Hampshire. Further information on the Tackling Knives Action Programme.
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Launched in October 2008, the Liverpool Youth Offender Service Knife Referral Programme of eight group-work sessions has been constructed to intervene with young people convicted of knife possession offences and subject to Youth Offender Service supervision.
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To tackle knife crime the government has: doubled the maximum sentence for carrying a knife in public from two to four years; raised the age at which you can buy a knife from 16 to 18; increased the use of stop and search; increased the amount of test purchasing operations for knives; given teachers new powers to search for knives at school; issued parents with a gangs leaflet for parents on how to spot if their child is in a gang; funded after-school patrols; launched a £3 million advertising campaign aimed at mothers who are concerned their child is carrying a knife; and extended the expectation to prosecute.
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Anyone over the age of 16 caught with a knife can expect to be prosecuted on the first offence. Those under 16 can still expect to receive a caution.
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The latest full statistical bulletin Knife Crime Sentencing Quarterly Brief October to December 2008 England and Wales is published on the Ministry of Justice website. The figures relate to disposals (from cautions to custodial sentences) in England and Wales during the period October to December 2008. All statistics quoted in the quarterly brief are provisional and subject to change in future quarters.
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The total number of offences (committed by adults and minors) involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon resulting in a caution or sentence during October to December 2008 was 6,704 compared to 6,808 in the same quarter of 2007.
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The number of offences involving the possession of a knife or offensive weapon resulting in a caution or sentence committed by those aged 10 to 17 years during October to December 2008 was 1,472 compared to 1,570 in the same quarter of 2007.
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‘Jamie’ is a pseudonym to protect the identity of the young person quoted in this news release.
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For more information please contact the Ministry of Justice press office on 020 3334 3536.
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