Knife crime in Wales has surged by 20% in six months, prompting urgent campaigns to educate youth on the dangers of carrying knives
Cardiff: Knife crime is becoming a serious issue in Wales. Reports show a 20% rise in incidents over the last six months. Crimestoppers, which collects anonymous crime info, is sounding the alarm.
To tackle this, they’ve launched a campaign through their youth service, Fearless. The goal? To educate young people about the risks of carrying knives and encourage them to report any concerns anonymously.
The campaign shares important facts, like how carrying a knife can lead to serious injury or even a five-year prison sentence. It aims to bust myths about knives and highlight the real consequences of having one.
Crimestoppers emphasizes that their reporting system is completely anonymous. Anyone can reach out through Fearless.org or call 0800 555 111. They promise confidentiality for anyone who shares info about knife-related crimes.
Recent events in Wales show just how serious this issue is. For instance, a 12-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing in Barry Island last November, leading to two teenagers being arrested.
There was also a scary attempted robbery involving an 11-year-old boy outside some shops in Cardiff. Plus, two teens were critically hurt in a stabbing in Cardiff city center, which led to a big police presence in the area.
In Swansea, a series of knife attacks in June 2024 resulted in multiple injuries, and a pregnant woman was stabbed in Aberfan in December 2023, with a man charged in connection.
Gwent saw the biggest jump in knife crime, with a 31% increase from 284 offenses in 2021/2022 to 372 in 2022/23. Dyfed-Powys followed with a 27% rise.
Looking at the bigger picture, police recorded a 4% increase in knife-related crimes across Wales and England, totaling nearly 51,000 offenses in the year ending June 2024.
Robberies involving knives went up by 11%, prompting South Wales Police to step up patrols in high-risk areas and run educational programs in schools under the #NotTheOne campaign.
Officers are working with community groups to tackle the root causes of knife violence. They stress that carrying a knife, even for protection, is illegal and can lead to serious harm.
They encourage everyone to report any concerns via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers. For more details, check out South Wales Police’s knife crime campaign page.
Superintendent Esyr Jones from South Wales Police said they’ve developed resources based on feedback from kids and professionals. He believes education and early intervention are key to preventing knife crime.
Jones added that young people should feel safe in their communities and have a childhood free from the fear of knives. The community’s involvement has been crucial in delivering this campaign.
Dan Jones, from the Wales Violence Prevention Unit, noted that many young people think carrying a knife will keep them safe, but it often leads to more danger.
He believes that by working together with kids and professionals, they can reduce knife crime even further. Crimestoppers also has an anonymous platform for young people to share information without fear of retaliation.
Hayley Fry, the Wales National Manager for Crimestoppers, said they aim to dispel myths about knives and encourage reporting. They guarantee anonymity for anyone who contacts them.
