Duke of Sussex to join the fight against knife crime epidemic

THE Duke of Sussex is to turn his sights on tackling knife crime, pledging to work on the “root causes” behind “skyrocketing” violence.

The Duke, who already has a project aimed at tackling violence and gangs focusing on the city of Nottingham, is expected to launch a new scheme specifically combating knife crime later this year.

Staff at the Royal Foundation, the charity of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have been tasked with speaking to young people to identify the key causes, reporting findings back to Prince Harry.

The foundation’s annual report states that 2018 will see the Duke focus on knife crime while the Duchess, who became the charity’s fourth patron after her wedding in May, has “lots of ideas she would like to pursue, particularly around female empowerment”.

The project will be launched at a time of deep concern about knife violence, with a series of stabbings in London leading to claims of an “epidemic”.

The Office for National Statistics identified 40,147 offences “involving a knife or sharp instrument” in the year ending March 2018, a 16per cent increase from the previous year and the highest level since comparable records began in 2011.

Speaking at the Royal Foundation Forum with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Sussex earlier in the year, Prince Harry said that youth violence in the UK served as a “classic example” of their approach.

“At the back end of last year, knife crime skyrocketed,” he said. “I spoke to some of the people at the Royal Foundation and said, right, knife crime – let’s look into it. But in reality, knife crime is a symptom of a cause.

“So therefore, go and speak to the young people, which is what we’re doing. Speak to those communities and listen to what they think the problems

‘In reality, knife crime is a symptom of a cause. So speak to the young people, which is what we’re doing’

are and then rewind it all the way back, to [see] what is the root cause of all of this.”

Writing in the annual report, Sir Keith Mills said the programme for 2018 would include “new projects on tackling knife crime, further work on conservation, supporting seriously injured veterans, and the expansion of Coach Core”.

The organisation’s report also disclosed that the Royal Foundation had leased office space for charities working to support the communities affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, asking peppercorn rent for seven months.