Former Offenders Call On Schoolkids To 'Swap A Knife for A Life'

Westminster officers are joining forces with former offenders to ask local schoolchildren to 'Swap a Knife for a Life' as they launch a new initiative encouraging young people to think twice before carrying a knife and getting involved in youth violence.

"Swap a knife for life" is targeted at children aged 11 - 12, who have recently joined secondary school and who are going through a big period of change. The project has been designed to make children aware of the consequences of carrying a knife, getting involved in violence and to help the youngsters make the right life choices.

The initiative came about after the daughter of Westminster PCSO, Sophie Chin, was attacked by a group of girls on the way home from school. Following the attack, Sophie approached her senior officers about going into schools and talking directly to the children about knife crime and youth violence.

Together with police and partnership colleagues she developed the idea of the interactive 'Chill' workshops which could be taken into secondary schools to highlight these problems and encourage youngsters to think about the consequences of their actions.

'Swap a Knife for a Life' has been created in conjunction with the Met's ongoing anti-knife crime operation, Blunt 2, and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust was launched yesterday at NSY and will be rolled out at schools throughout Westminster over the coming months.

Sgt Karl Rogers, project leader, said: "The vast majority of young people don't carry knives. This initiative is designed to be an early intervention project, educating the children before they become involved with youth violence.

"However, we hope that it will also target any children who already carry a knife or have become involved in gang culture. Our message to young people is clear - don't take the chance make a choice."

(JM/BMcc)