Knife Crime Awareness Week
Shed light on the urgency of understanding and addressing knife crime, fostering safer communities through awareness and collaboration.
While knives make a great tool that can be used for all sorts of household chores as well as hobbies, knives can also be a very dangerous weapon. When people carry knives, even if it is for self protection, they increase the chance that they will be victims of knife violence.
With a 46% increase of knife crime in the UK between the years of 2012 and 2022, it is clear that crimes related to the use of knives and blades are having a huge impact and wreaking havoc on individuals, families and communities all throughout the country.
Knife Crime Awareness Week is here to shine a spotlight on the risks of knife crimes as well as the devastating consequences that knife crime causes.
History of Knife Crime Awareness Week
Knife Crime Awareness Week got its start in 2023 when it was founded by the Ben Kinsella Trust in the United Kingdom. The event was established to promote awareness and improve communication about the negative impact that knife possession has on communities and families, while reminding people that knife crime is preventable.
The Ben Kinsella Trust is a charitable organization that was formed after Ben Kinsella, a 16 year old boy, was stabbed to death in London in 2008. Ben became the 17th teenager to be murdered through knife crimes that year and obviously there have been many other families who have suffered and paid the price for these atrocities.
Since Ben’s death in 2008, there have been more than 1000 additional knife crimes that have led to the loss of life. Knife Crime Awareness Week was founded to shed some light on this problem and share the stories of those who have been impacted by knife crime.
During the inaugural Knife Crime Awareness Week, the Ben Kinsella Trust offered events and themes to correlate with each day. These included topics such as “The Tragedy in Numbers”, “Real Stories, Real People”, “Prevention Through Education” and “Make Your Pledge”.
The purpose for Knife Crime Awareness Week is to have honest conversations, especially with kids and teens, about gang violence, knife crimes, and better ways to implement self protection. With education and awareness, the hope is for a reduction in people carrying knives which will result in a reduction in knife crimes.
How to Observe Knife Crime Awareness Week
Curious about some ways to observe Knife Crime Awareness Week? Consider some of these ideas to make a difference in the world and help to prevent crimes that can include loss of life:
Share a Story about Knife Crime
One way that the folks at the Ben Kinsella Trust encourage people to observe Knife Crime Awareness Week is to share their stories and tell about their experiences related to knife crime. The idea behind this is to show the public how horrible knife misconduct can be, and encourage young people to avoid the use of knives and blades.
Those who don’t have knife crime stories of their own to share can get access to some resources at the Ben Kinsella Trust website.
Attend a Knife Crimes Workshop
Many different charitable organizations and foundations are dedicated to educating young people and their families about the dangers of knife crimes. In honor of Knife Crime Awareness Week, some of these organizations may be offering workshops or other educational events for parents and caregivers. Whether held online or in person, parents, teachers and other adults can learn a great deal around the topics of knives, gangs, exploitation, street violence and more. This type of knowledge can help adults have open conversations with their kids and work toward prevention or find solutions.
Get the Facts About Knife Crimes
While statistics don’t tell the whole story about a situation such as knife crimes, they can often reveal the scope of a problem. In honor of Knife Crime Awareness Week, it’s a great idea to get a bit more educated and be equipped to have a conversation around the topic. Start with some different facts about knife crimes and share them with friends or family members to talk about it:
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A knife crime doesn’t have to include a traditional “knife”. It is defined as any instrument that is sharp or bladed, including a kitchen knife, potato peeler, or even a piece of glass.
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Most young people who carry knives say that they do it for their own protection but it is not actually “safer” for a person to carry a knife, blade or other sharp object and no one should do it.
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Sadly, 65% of those who carry a knife will become a victim of a knife crime when their weapon is turned and used against them.
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Many places are now treating knife crime as a public health issue and the number of incidences may be decreasing.
Make a Donation to Prevent Knife Crime
The Ben Kinsella Trust that started this event is just one of the many charitable organizations seeking to end violence in their local area and all throughout the world. One way to help with Knife Crime Awareness Week would be to share some financial resources that will allow these charities to run programs that continue to make a difference, especially in the lives of young people.
Names of other charities fighting against knife crime include Lives Not Knives, Steel Warriors, the Jodie Chesney Foundation, KnifeCrimes.org, and many others. A little internet search should provide information about the various organizations and how they will use the funds that are donated to them.
Join a Challenge Event
One of the ways that the Ben Kinsella Trust and other charitable organizations encourage people to raise awareness and raise funds is through various challenge events they hold throughout the year. This might include half marathons, bicycle rides, walk-a-thons and more. Knife Crime Awareness Week is a great time to check out upcoming events and sign up to join one – then start training to show support for this important cause!
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