CALL TO LIVE LIFE WITHOUT A KNIFE
THE consequences of carrying a knife in public can be dire, and potentially fatal.
These were some of the facts drilled into a group of teenage girls who were part of Project Booyah, as Townsville Police launched their knife prevention campaign throughout the city.
Townsville District Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon said they focused on youth as it was predominantly kids who were carrying knives. “There’s no excuse... people have died because of the use of knives in altercations,” Superintendent Hanlon said.
There have been multiple incidents across Townsville in the last year where juveniles have threatened people with knives, including carjackings and shop robberies.
Superintendent Hanlon said knives were a serious issue as they were so easily accessible.
“You can take them from the kitchen... another person in the house won’t see it’s gone.”
Participant Layla said the program should be shared with more kids after she learnt a lot of new facts.
“You can get a serious injury to yourself and you can get in a lot of trouble by police,” Layla said. “It’s an offence to carry a knife in public.”
District Crime Prevention Officer Acting Senior Sergeant Julie Cooke said the campaign would be rolled out to more schools next year.