Players back police campaign

LEICESTER City Football Club is backing a police campaign urging young people not to carry knives.

Footballers Wes Morgan, Danny Simpson, Jonny Evans and James Maddison appear in the latest film released by Leicestershire Police as part of the #LivesNotKnives campaign.

The players appeal to youngsters to stay “focused” and “work together as part of a team” to keep themselves safe as well as people in their communities.

They finish with the words “Make the right choice – don’t let us down,” followed by the hashtag LivesNotKnives.

The film was played at the Kingpower Stadium ahead of a recent Premiership game in front of a 32,000 strong crowd.

In addition, it will be used across the force’s social media channels with the aim of targeting a younger audience. It will also be shown in local schools as part of Leicestershire Police’s education programme.

Superintendent Shane O’Neill, who leads the force’s response to knife crime, said: “We are delighted that Leicester City Football Club is supporting this important campaign. We know that many young people look up to these players and having their full weight behind #LivesNotKnives sends out a strong message to young football fans that carrying a knife is not part of a team mentality.

“We are working extremely hard as a force to educate young people in schools and through youth engagement activities that carrying a knife is not a status symbol and it comes with serious penalties.

“Knife crime affects all communities, particularly young people, so our hope is that this message from the players themselves will reach out to them above all.”