South Wales Police Anti-Knife Campaign
Tuesday, 31 March, 2009
"There isn't a knife culture across South Wales - and you can help keep it that way" is the message that South Wales
Police gave listeners in a radio campaign
encouraging both young and old to stand together against knife crime.
These radio ads are the latest step in the
forces marketing campaign, developed to reassure the public that the force are committed to keeping knife crime low, but also to call on the community of South Wales for their help, so they can stop knife crime in its tracks.
As the media's spotlight continues to raise the profile of Knife Crime across the UK, public reassurance appears to be taking a nose dive as they perceive the problem to be pandemic across the country, particularly amongst young people.
However careful analysis undertaken by
the force has revealed that, while criminal activity involving the use of knives clearly does take place in South Wales, it is still in comparison to other areas relatively low.
It has also revealed that the 'knife culture' that has already claimed too many young lives across the UK, has not yet become the 'culture' of children living in South Wales.
It began in December with a National knife
hand in, which sought to take knives and any other instruments that may be used to inflict harm on others off our streets.
January then saw boxing legend Joe Calzaghe supporting the force at the launch of 'At Life Point' an educational DVD created by young people for young people, highlighting the devastating but very real consequences, carrying a knife can have.
Commenting on the campaign, South
Wales Police Chief Superintendent Josh
Jones said:"The radio ads are a continuation of the educational work undertaken by our School Liaison Officers and other partners in the delivery of 'At life Point,' to 11 - 18 year olds across the force area.
"Knife Crime is hitting the headlines across the country, and young people are increasingly coming under the spotlight, often being portrayed as mindless thugs, who carry knives with the sole intention of inflicting harm on others. Let's not demonise our young people here in South Wales. Let's help them make wise decisions about not carrying a knife.
"The 'knife culture' already established in many areas of UK, has not developed across South Wales, and we need our communities to do all they can to help us keep it that way."
