Pupils to be taught the dangers of knife crime before summer break
SCHOOLS across England will teach children about the perils of knife crime ahead of the summer holidays.
Teachers will tell pupils during hour-long lessons about the consequences of carrying blades and insist they are not better protected by being armed.
It follows calls from former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, whose 16-year-old brother Ben was murdered by armed thugs in 2008, for children to be taught about knife crime as part of the national curriculum.
It comes amid surging violence on Britain’s streets, as gangs fight over drugs, cash and territory.
At least 51 people have been stabbed to death in London this year, with other major cities across the UK also seeing a surge in knife crime.
The Home Office said almost 50,000 teachers had received lesson plans for teaching children about knives.
Crime minister Victoria Atkins said: “The summer holidays can pose additional dangers to young people, which is why we are determined to do everything we can to keep them safe and give them tools and the resilience they need to enjoy the summer break.
Tackle
“We need everyone to work together to tackle the rise in serious violence. I thank every teacher who takes the time in their busy schedule to deliver these vital lessons to their students.”
Children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “These lesson plans will help illustrate the real impact of knife crime on young people’s lives. It’s heartening to know schools up and down the country are taking advantage of them.”
Brooke, 34, wants children to learn about knife crime in a safe, stable environment so they can ask questions and talk to peers in a bid to stop them carrying knives on Britain’s streets.
She said: “I firmly believe in education. I’d love something to be on the national curriculum. We teach children about safe sex and drugs and we shy away from knife crime because nobody wants to admit there’s a problem.
“Schools, parents, we all need to come together and we need long-term investment and a longterm plan. It’s not going away any time soon. We can’t keep losing kids. We teach them about choices and consequences and what this does, not only to the person whose life is lost, but the victim, the perpetrator, both families.”
The Daily Express has launched a crusade to ban shops from selling knives to teenagers.
In April we revealed how children as young as 14 were able to buy knives despite a ban.
In June, we told how nearly all police forces in England and Wales admitted there were not enough police officers on the streets. There are now 22,000 fewer than in 2010, says federation figures.
Experts believe Britain’s crimewave is being fuelled by a massive influx of cocaine. Home Office officials said: “We are now certain that drugs are playing an important role in driving up homicide.”