Signs to look out for
Parents are being encouraged to look out for the signs that their child may be carrying a knife and talk to them about the very real danger, that by carrying a knife, they are more likely to be stabbed themselves. Many victims in the West Midlands have often found their own knife has been grabbed and used against them in an attack.
Some of the warning signs are:
 | Has your child withdrawn from the family and / or school? |
 | Is your child’s school or college reporting worrying changes in behaviour, achievement or attendance? |
 | Have they lost interest in positive activities like sports clubs? |
 | Do they stay out unusually late without giving a reason, and are vague about their whereabouts? |
 | Have they stopped seeing old friends and started hanging out with a new group? |
 | Are they secretive about the contents of their bag? |
 | Are they defensive if you ask if they’re hiding anything? |
 | Has their attitude changed about knives or weapons? For example, saying people carry them for self-defence? |
 | Have any items gone missing from the kitchen, tool box or garage? |
 | Have you found a weapon hidden amongst their stuff? |
We are urging parents to talk to their children about knife crime, even if they don’t think they should be worried. Click here for advice on how to have that chat.