Year 8 are against
Knife Crime
Year 9 Form Morning Monday April
13th
Respect Rules
The topic we are going to look at this morning is an important one to ensure that everyone understands that knife crime is dangerous, and has a devastating impact on the family of victims. Remember – your opinions, although valid, could affect someone else greatly.
Please remember to be respectful of this.
Know that knife crime is one of a number of personal safety risks for young people
Using the Crime Statement sheet, in pairs consider each of the following statements. In the first column identify whether you agree, disagree or don’t know.
A. Knife crime is a major social issue.
B. Most people who carry knives intend to hurt or threaten someone.
C. Knife crime is on the increase.
D. Crime involving knives is rare.
E. Violent crime is the biggest risk to young people out and about.
F. Knife crime is a bigger issue than road safety.
G. The vast majority of young people have never carried a knife.
Know that knife crime is one of a number of personal safety risks for young people
Consider each individual fact on the next two slides in your pairs. Then complete column two on the Crime Statement sheet. Do you still feel the same?
“Although knife crime features heavily in the media as a social issue, the proportion of young people who actually carry a knife is very small.” Only four per cent of 12‐17 year olds admitted to carrying a knife either now or in the past, and for the majority carrying was an infrequent occurrence. The majority of current or former knife carriers were aged between 15 and
17, white and male.
Self protection was the most common reason given for carrying a knife.
Overall, three per cent of young people (10-25 years old) in the UK said they had carried a knife with them in the preceding 12 months.
Of these, over half (54%) said they had carried it only once or twice.
A very small minority of the three per cent of young people who had carried a knife reported using the knife to threaten or injure someone (4% and 1% respectively). The proportion of violent offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in 2010/11 was six per cent, the same as for
2009/10. This figure has remained in the range
In
2009,since
16% of young 5-8%
1996.
people in mainstream education said they had carried a knife in the last year (excluding those who reported carrying a knife for legitimate reasons, including hobbies, activities, sports or work).
Of those who had carried a knife, only 4% reported having used it to injure or
In 2010-11 knives were used in 6% of violent incidents.
Weapons were used in
20% of violent incidents;
79% of violent incidents involved no weapon. There were 32,174 violent offences involving a knife or sharp instrument. There were around
526,000 incidents of bicycle theft in 2010/11.
There has been a general upward trend in bicycle thefts as measured since 2002/03.
Can suggest ways of staying safe when out and about
There will be 5 questions on the next few slides that you will answer in groups of approximately 4 or 5. For each question you need to discuss with your group what the answer is, and more importantly WHY?
Answer C
Always try to stick to busy, well-lit roads, even if that means a longer walk. Avoid short cuts through parks, waste grounds or along dark, deserted streets whenever possible.
You’ve been out with your mates, it’s late and you are on your way home alone. Should you…?
a) Take any shortcuts because the quicker you get home the better.
b) Take the quietest route because it’s safer when there is no-one around to cause trouble.
c) Take the busiest route because you are safer with more people around.
Answer C
Both hitting out first or running are likely to cause the aggression to escalate. By staying calm and trying to talk your way out of it, you might be able to defuse the situation.
If someone starts to get aggressive with you, it’s best to:
a) Hit out first, before they get a chance to.
