Police and justice experts will descend on Leicestershire next week for a high-profile conference examining knife crime and its impact on young people.
The ‘Fearless Against Knife Crime’ event, which is being jointly hosted by Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach alongside charity Crimestoppers and its youth service Fearless.org, will bring professionals working with young people together to discuss the best strategies to fight knife crime and keep young people safe.
The conference, funded by the PCC, takes place on Tuesday 27 November at Leicestershire County Cricket Club and will feature a host of key speakers including acclaimed youth education expert Dr Angela Herbert MBE, West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Ashley Bertie, PCC Willy Bach, Leicestershire’s Deputy Chief Constable Rob Nixon and Leicestershire’s Deputy Commissioner Kirk Master.
Dr Herbert will address delegates about community responsibility in reducing violence among young people while the conference will also hear the findings of Leicestershire Police’s recent knife crime analysis measuring current threat levels across the county.
Willy Bach said: “It is imperative we do everything we can to protect young people today and the next generation who follow them from engaging in knife violence and cutting short their lives and their opportunities.
“Knife crime continues to dominate the policing agenda but it is clear moving forward that cooperation and consistency are needed among all partners and those who work with young people to intervene early and stop those at risk making destructive life choices which impact on them and their family.
“I’m very grateful for the support of Crimestoppers and Fearless in supporting this event and look forward to some very robust discussions on what action needs to be taken to increase the safety of young people in Leicestershire and stop impressionable youths from carrying knives. This is an urgent issue that must be addressed.”
The conference will examine how best to educate young people about knife crime and successful ways to empower vulnerable teenagers to choose a different path, drawing on the experience of West Midlands Police and knife crime workers with Fearless, the youth brand of Crimestoppers.
A report setting out the outcomes of the event will be drafted following the conference to inform knife crime strategy in the future.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Fearless.org provides tools and resources for young people so they can access non-judgemental information and advice about crimes that might affect them. It also enables young people to pass on information about crime anonymously on its website and has held campaigns to reduce knife crime.
Leicestershire Police has a dedicated Children and Youth Persons Officer who works with educational agencies and schools to ensure young people know the dangers of carrying knives, the consequences and also what they can do to change their behaviour and seek help. Officers regularly go into schools to talk to young people about knife crime and how to stay safe while a number of campaigns are underway including the successful #LivesNotKnives campaign, which was recently supported by Leicester City Football Club through a joint film sending out a strong message to young football fans that carrying a knife is not part of a team mentality.
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair - 01283 821012 / 07702 541401
Posted on Wednesday 21st November 2018