A film designed to change the behaviour of young people caught carrying knives is being launched in Liverpool.
‘My Knife Story’ has been produced by the city’s Youth Offending Service and will be used as part of its acclaimed Knife Crime Prevention Programme, which shows young people that knives put them in danger and has a devastating impact on the community and the victim.
The film, produced by Insight Moving Images, uses actors and staff from organisations who deliver the programme to demonstrate the journey of a young person who takes part in the scheme, and how it changes their views.
Starring young local actor Sean Harrison, the DVD is being launched at FACT on Wood Street on Monday 26 October. The event will be attended by Frances Done, Chair of the Youth Justice Board.
The eight week programme forces youths to face:
• An ex-offender who has been convicted of knife crime, talking about the consequences of his actions
• A nurse from Royal Liverpool University hospital showing real life images of horrific knife injuries
• Mothers who have lost children through crime showing devastating impact it has had on their lives
Councillor Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool’s executive member for Safer, Stronger Communities, said: “This pioneering project is changing attitudes, reducing re-offending and making Liverpool even safer.
“By intervening quickly and working closely with offenders to show them the dangers of carrying weapons we are helping prevent assaults and injuries and potentially saving lives.
"Compared to other large cities, we are fortunate in that we do not have a major problem with knife crime. But we are not complacent and this project is aimed at reducing the relatively low number of offences even further.”
So far, 42 people have successfully completed the scheme in Liverpool and it has had a big impact on those who have taken part.
The city is one of 10 areas which piloted the scheme as part of the government’s Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP). It was introduced in June 2008 to combat the use of knives among young people.
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