1. KNIFE CRIME AWARENESS

2. Overview: UK facts about Knife Crime Crimestoppers What is Knife Crime
Knife Crime and the Law

3. Facts:
Nearly a third of children in the UK have been affected by gun and knife crime. Source: NCH/Action for Children 2008.
One in five 16 year-old boys admits to having attacked someone and intended to hurt them seriously with a knife. Source: National Youth Agency 2006.
63% of young people surveyed believe image is directly linked to gun and knife crime; 61% think gun and knife crime is about revenge and reprisals; and 63% believe peer pressure is a main reason for gun and knife crime. Source: NCH/Action for Children 2008.
The most commonly given reason for carrying a knife is ‘for protection'. Other reasons include ‘in case there's a fight' and ‘for use in crimes': Source: Offending, Crime and Justice Survey 2005.

4. What is Crimestoppers doing about knife crime?
Latest knife crime statistics :
Last year, the number of homicides involving a knife or other sharp instrument fell (from 270 in 2007/08 to 252 in 2008/09).
There was a rise in attempted murders involving knives (245 in 2007/08 to 271 in 2008/09).
Robbery offences involving knives fell by 2% last year.
28 teenagers were killed in violent incidents in London in 2008.
The government says 80% of all knife crime happens in just a few areas, places like London, Leeds and Glasgow.

5. Your Thoughts….
Listen to the facts and statements and see whether you agree or disagree with them and discuss why? You chose to go with that answer.

6. Britain and Knife Crime
Knife crime can involve many things, including just buying or carrying an illegal knife. In recent years, laws on selling and carrying knives have been tightened, and punishments for knife offences increased. Before you consider buying a knife, make sure it’s legal.

7. It is illegal for a shop to sell a knife to anyone under 16 in the UK
It is illegal for a shop to sell a knife to anyone under 16 in the UK. True or false?
A: True B: False

8. A survey by the Be Safe Project shows that up to one in three young people regularly carry a knife. True or false?
A: True B: False

9. A survey by the Be Safe Project shows that up to one in three young people regularly carry a knife. True or false?
A: True B: False

10. What kind of knife can you carry in a public place?
A: Swiss army knife B: Large kitchen knife C: Flick knife

11. What is the name of the government Bill which covers young people and knives?
A: The Deadly Weapons Act B: The Offensive Weapons Act C: The Blade Act

12. Carrying a knife to defend yourself is an acceptable excuse in the law
Carrying a knife to defend yourself is an acceptable excuse in the law. True or false?
A: True B: False

13. What is knife crime? What is knife crime?
‘Knife crime’ is any crime that involves a knife.
This can include:
carrying or trying to buy a knife if you’re under 18
threatening people with a knife
carrying an illegal kind of knife
murder or assault in which the victim was stabbed with a knife
robbery or burglary where the thieves carried a knife as a weapon

14. Carrying a knife
If you carry a knife to protect yourself or make yourself feel safer but don’t intend to use it then you are committing a crime. You are also more likely to become a victim of crime.
Your own knife can be used against you.
If you do want to know more about protecting yourself, there are much easier and safer ways to do it. You could, for example, take a self-defence course offered by your local council, or at a gym.

15. Basic rules on knives
If you’re planning to buy or carry a knife, it’s important to know the rules. Anyone found breaking these laws can face up to four years in prison.
These include:
it is illegal for any shop to sell a knife of any kind (including cutlery and kitchen knives) to anyone under the age of 18
it is a crime to carry a knife in public without good reason – for example, if you work as a chef
the maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5000
it is illegal to carry, buy or sell any type of knife banned by the government (the list of banned knives is below)
knives with folding blades, like Swiss Army knives, are not illegal as long as the blade is three inches long (7.62 cms) or less
if any knife is used in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife), it is regarded as an 'offensive weapon' by the law
any sharp instrument – even a screwdriver – can be viewed by the police as an illegal offensive weapon if you do not have a good reason for carrying it

16. Illegal knives
There is a complete ban on the sale of some knives, which are considered to be offensive weapons.
These include:
flick knives - knives where the blade is hidden inside the handle and shoots out when a button is pressed; these are also called 'switchblades' or 'automatic knives'
butterfly knives - where the blade is hidden inside a handle that splits in two around it, like wings; the handles swing around the blade to open or close it
disguised knives - where the blade is hidden inside something like a belt buckle or fake mobile phone
gravity knives
sword-sticks
samurai swords
hand-claws
foot-claws
belt-buckle knives
push daggers
kubotan (cylindrical container, holding spikes)
shuriken (also known as 'death stars' or 'throwing stars')
kusari-gama (sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire)
kyoketsu-shoge (hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wire)
kusari (weight attached to a rope, cord or wire)

17. What can you do about knife crime?
Police and local councils regularly run anti-knife campaigns, and if you’re upset or scared by knife crime, you might want to get involved. These usually involve events designed to let you know about problems in your area, and they give you the chance to talk with other people about the issues.
If you're interested, contact your neighbourhood policing team. You can also just stop by your nearest police station to find out about anti-knife activities in your area.

18. Knife Crime - What to look for
Most young people decide they need to start carrying a knife because they feel threatened. Signs to look out for that may suggest your child is feeling this way are:
school’s not going well / they don’t want to go in to school at all;
they’ve been a recent victim of theft / bullying / mugging;
a different network of friends who may be older than your child.
Remind the young person that they should always walk away if confronted with the threat of violence.
Other interests and activities for your child
To help a young person have the confidence to walk away from violence, it’s important that you encourage them to get involved in positive activities and explore any interests they have. You can find out on Directgov what activities are happening in your area by following the link below.

19. 1. On average how often does a crime take place in England and Wales?
(A) Every Second (B) Every 5 Seconds (C) Every 30 Seconds (D) Every minute

20. 2. According to the latest British Crime Survey, what is the average likelihood of you being burgled?
(A) 1 in 10 (B) 1 in 40 (C) 1 in 80 (D) 1 in 200

21. 3. What is the most popular time of day for burglaries?
(A) At night when residents are in bed (B) Early in the morning (C) During the day (D) During the evening

22. 4. What percentage of burglars would reportedly be put off
...from breaking into property with a burglar alarm?
(A) 10% (B) 100% (C) 47% (D) 90%

23. 5. What is stolen in a half of all robberies?
(A) Cash (B) Mobile phone (C) Jewellery (D) MP3 player

24. 6. Who is the typical homophobic hate offender?
(A) A neighbour (B) Unemployed male aged between (C) Teenage girl (D) Young white male aged between 16-20

25. 7. Who is the most likely to be a victim of violent crime by a stranger?
(A) Full-time student (B) Unemployed (C) Young man (D) Young woman

26. 8. How many murders were recorded in the UK in 2007?
(A) 15 (B) 927 (C) 12,522 (D) 1,987

27. 9. The 5.4 million crimes recorded in the UK in 2007
...place it second only to which country in the EU?
(A) Sweden (B) Italy (C) France (D) Spain

28. 10. According to a recent Home Office survey what percentage of 10 to 25-year-olds
...have carried a knife in the previous 12 months?
(A) 55% (B) 0.5% (C) 4% (D) 2%

29. 11. For every one teenage death caused by a knife attack
...approximately how many cases of hospital treatment for non-fatal knife wounds are recorded?
(A) 2 (B) 52 (C) 3 (D) 14

30. 12. How Many CCTV cameras are currently watching over Britain?
(A) 560,000 (B) 260 (C) 17,000 (D) 4.2 million

31. 13. What percentage of street robberies in London are now reportedly solved
...with the aid of the capital’s 10,000 CCTV cameras?
(A) 55% (B) 11% (C) 72% (D) 3%

32. 14. What is biggest culprit for the dramatic rise of online banking fraud
...between 2004 and 2008?
(A) Key logging programmes (B) Phishing (C) Scam s from supposed Nigerian businessmen (D) Teenage hackers

33. 15. The largest cash robbery in UK history netted £53,116,760
...but where did it take place?
(A) Northern Bank in Belfast (B) Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn, Buckinghamshire (C) Securitas Depot, Tonbridge, Kent (D) Lloyds Bank, Baker Street, London

34. 16. What was Steve Wright found guilty of on February 21, 2008?
(A) The murder of five prostitutes in the Ipswich area (B) The rape of seven women and girls around the Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and London areas (C) The murder of 13-year-old school girl Amanda Dowler (D) Conspiracy to commit robbery at the Securitas Depot in Tonbridge, Kent

35. Answers
(1) B (2) B (3) D (4) D (5) B (6) D (7) C (8) B (9) A (10) C (11) D (12) D (13) D (14) A (15) C (16) A

36. 1. If you are convinced you are being followed in the street
...what should you do?
(A) Quickly head into the nearest public place, or any residence or business that looks occupied. (B) Cross the road and run in the opposite direction. (C) Turn around and confront them to ask them why they are following you. (D) Stop and scream, “Stop following me!” as loud as you can.

37. 2. Whilst walking home through the park late a night you hear strange sounds
...coming from the bushes, what should you do?
(A) Go and investigate what’s going on. (B) Break out into a sprint and don’t look back. (C) This wouldn’t happen as you know never walk through secluded places such as alley ways, parks or waste ground, after dark. (D) Ignore it – all sorts of strange things go on in parks late at night, it’s best not to pry.

38. 3. If a stranger in the street threatens you with a weapon
...and demands your valuables, what should you do?
(A) Run as fast you can. (B) Say “No” and simply turn and walk away. (C) Give them what they want. (D) Scream.

39. 4. If you are a regular jogger, which of these methods will NOT help you
...to avoid unwanted attention?
(A) Wearing dark or bland coloured clothing. (B) Running a variable route. (C) Sticking to well lit and populated areas. (D) Running very fast.

40. 5. After a late night out in town
...what is the safest way of getting home?
(A) Getting the night bus. (B) Hailing a taxi. (C) Walking. (D) Booking a licensed taxi to share with friends who live in a similar area.

41. 6. When walking home late at night
...which of these safety measures are you not advised to adopt?
(A) Stick to well lit public areas. (B) Walk in company. (C) Wear a large hat so that your face can’t be easily seen. (D) Keep valuables, such as mobile phones or jewellery, out of sight.

42. 7. If a stranger comes up to you in the street
...to ask for change or a cigarette what should you do?
(A) Blank them completely. (B) Stop and give their request your undivided attention. (C) Run. (D) Politely say “No” whilst carrying on walking.

43. 8. To avoid attracting unwanted attention, what street manner is it best to adopt?
(A) Act confident, with your head high, as if you know where you are going, even if you don’t. (B) Attract assistance by looking like a tourist, such as in holding a map and appearing confused. (C) Keep your head down and your shoulders hunched to avoid catching a stranger’s eye. (D) Try to appear tough and cocky by walking with a strut, and with your chin in the air. Chewing gum also increases the effectiveness of the manner.

44. 9. If you are travelling by public transport at night
...which of these tips is it NOT necessary to observe?
(A) Always plan your route beforehand. (B) Try to wait in well lit areas, ideally with a group of other passengers. (C) Try to strike up conversations with other passengers. (D) Try to sit near other passengers or members of staff.

45. 10. What should you NOT do when using a cash machine?
(A) Accept help from a stranger. (B) Keep you PIN secret from everyone, even the bank or the police. (C) Shield you PIN from the people around you. (D) Cancel your card immediately if it is lost, stolen or eaten by the machine.

46. (1) A (2) C (3) C (4) D (5) D (6) C (7) D (8) A (9) C (10) A
Answers
(1) A (2) C (3) C (4) D (5) D (6) C (7) D (8) A (9) C (10) A

47. Can I buy a knife?
Knives
In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, if you're under the age of 18 you're not allowed to buy:
Any knife, knife blade or razor blade
Any axe
Any other article which has a blade or is sharply pointed
In Scotland, you cannot buy any type of knife if you're under 16 years old.
Illegal blades
Some knives are illegal to everyone, however old they are:
Flick knives - Where the blade is hidden inside the handle and shoots out when a button is pressed. They are also called switchblades or automatic knives.
Butterfly knives - Where the blade is hidden inside a handle that splits in two around it, like wings. The handles swing around the blade to open or close it.
Disguised knives - The blade is hidden inside something like a belt buckle or a fake mobile phone.

48. What is a knife amnesty?
A knife amnesty is something the police use to try to get people to give up any illegal knives they may have.
During an amnesty people can hand in their knives at police stations without getting into trouble.
In some areas, secure bins are also put in places like schools, youth clubs and churches to encourage more people to dump their blades.
Tough punishments
In the past, knife amnesties have been very successful, with people giving up thousands of illegal knives and weapons.
When an amnesty ends, tough punishments are reintroduced for anyone who's caught carrying a knife.
That can mean getting a huge fine or even being sent to prison.

49. Reporting knife crime anonymously
If you have information about knife crime and you're nervous about going to the police, you can call Crimestoppers on They will never ask for your name or try to trace the number that you're calling from.

51. Extra Reading
Notes and Extra Information:
Links: