The NeverChooseKnives rap/video is a new anti-knife crime message for young people by young people, about the dangers of carrying a knife.
Created by Year 10 pupils from St George’s Catholic School in Southampton as part of the Police Apprentice Initiative, NeverChooseKnives is aimed at 9 – 14-year-olds, who are at a transitional stage in life finding themselves facing critical choices and decisions.
The lyrics are dynamic and talk the truths behind carrying a knife, the laws, and how it doesn’t necessarily offer protection but makes you more likely to become a victim, as well as a criminal. The chorus has a catchy and positive vibe – ‘Stop knife crime now, we’ll show you how, NeverChooseKnives’.
As part of the research, the children considered the reasons why young people would consider carrying a knife, with the fear of being attacked featuring high. Other factors were peer pressure and involvement in criminal activity.
A collaborative approach between Hampshire Constabulary’s Strategic Youth Engagement Team, Southampton City Council – as part of their Child Friendly Southampton Strategy, Southampton Youth Offending Service Weapons Against Awareness Group (WAG) and The Saints Foundation.
Last year, 315 children and young people (Under 25) were caught in possession of a bladed implement, in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Over the past 3 years the Force has seen a year on year increase in this age group caught carrying knives; Southampton recorded 42 in 2016/7, 57 in 2017/18 and 69 in 2018/19.
Using Hampshire Constabulary’s Police Apprentice initiative to run a competition among secondary schools in Southampton, tasking pupils to design a peer-focused campaign to raise awareness of the risks associate to carrying knives. Titled ‘Street Safe, Street Smart’, the competition was launched back in January of this year as part of the WAG’s strategic response to raise awareness and educate young people.
PC Maria Carrick, Hampshire Constabulary’s Education and Youth Engagement Coordinator and lead representative for the Police Apprentice Initiative said:
“The focus, creativity and commitment demonstrated by these young people reinforces how fundamentally important it is for adults to respect young people as credible partners by actively including them in problem-solving issues affecting them and their community.
“The NeverChooseKnives campaign captures the aim and ethos of the Police Apprentice Initiative is which is to give children and young people a voice, through an innovative learning experience that gives them the opportunity to develop tangible ways of tackling problems and a platform to be heard”.
IF, our wonderful MP’s had not imported half of the third world here, then our young would have ‘no need’ to feel that they needed to protect themselves in such a way.
Yet, as we know, MP’s and their loved ones, live well away, are educated well away, travel and work and holiday well away from this imported crime wave.
Using such to lower the wages for them and their ilk, it is us that are left to deal with the ‘unwanted’ side of this modern slavery influx.
That God for that ‘expensive’ stretch of water, or things will be a lot worse. Remember that when you ‘want’ a fixed link, won’t only be one way.