Knife crime

Lancashire Police has received increased equipment and funding to put more officers on the streets to tackle knife crime. This had led to a boost in existing and new activity:

• New knife arches and wands are being used by officers at targeted days, times and locations to find and remove knives from people who are carrying them.
• Test purchasing is being carried out by the trading standards team and police officers to ensure shops are selling knives lawfully.
• 16 new knife bins were installed throughout Lancashire in early 2020, giving communities a safe place to dispose of unwanted knives.
• Increased stop and search and knife sweep activity.
• Taking part in national and regional knife crime initiatives.

We have commissioned knife crime education and prevention programmes to primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across the county.

We are also developing an education and behavioural change campaign to discourage young people from carrying knives. This is being informed by a market research exercise that engaged with young people, their families, and those who work with young people. The result will be a digital campaign and educational package for secondary age pupils.

Working with the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, we have commissioned 11 community groups and third sector organisations for projects that help to tackle knife crime.

These projects range from education in schools and colleges to peer mentoring, a boxing club, youth programmes, and a street-based youth and community project working in known hotspots.

We are also holding ROC community conversations to hear the voice of people within communities, identify issues and how individuals and groups can make a difference within their own neighbourhoods.

Liverpool John Moore’s University has been commissioned to complete an academic evaluation of our knife crime assets and projects to enable us to take an evidence-based assessment of their use in the future.