Knife Crime
Fighting Weapons with Words
In the year ending March 2024, there were around 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument in England and Wales (ONS Data)
There has been a 64%increase in Police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the last 10 years (comparing June 2025 to March 2016)
Young people tell us that knife crime is a real concern for them, and their fears are understandable. The Youth Endowment fund children, violence and vulnerability report shows that 1 in 20 teenage children in England and Wales report having used a weapon to threaten or hurt someone in the past year. Over 2% (equivalent to 86,667 13-17-year-olds nationally) say they’ve carried a knife. Half (52%) of all teenage children report changes to their daily life out of concerns for their safety, with a small but worrying proportion (9%) saying they’ve joined a gang or carried a weapon to protect themselves.
Since January 2023 we have run campaigns to "fight weapons with words" delivering Knife-Related Workshops to young people in the capital.
Knife Related Restorative Workshops
- Our direct, high impact sessions engaging face to face with those who are perpetrators, or at risk of becoming involved in knife crime, helping them to find a positive way forward through comprehensive support and education.
- This campaign was delivered through 2023 and culminated in the creation of our first Talking head video - Kofi's Story which is now used to raise awareness amongst a wider audience and educate others on the dangers of carrying a weapon.
The trailer can be viewed here and the full narrative viewed here.
Knife crime awareness workshops
- Our current Knife Crime campaign delivering workshops that aim to raise awareness and educate young people on the dangers of carrying a weapon and the impact it can have.
- This has been delivered through 2024 and in 2025 at senior schools for boys in London and also in HMP Pentonville.
Bluntly Put is delivered in partnership with Aaron from Amari Rae FDN CIC, an experienced facilitators with a background in youth work and crime prevention. They are fully funded Knife Crime Awareness workshops available to secondary schools that are committed to tackling this issue and making a real difference in their communities across London and Kent.
These engaging, interactive workshops encourage critical thinking and equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make positive choices, avoid risky situations, and understand the real-life consequences of knife crime.
Please email info@kentopera.org to find out more
