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#LifeOrKnife

Be aware – know the law

Don’t be in the dark about knife crime.

Look at some of the sharp facts below about knife crime…

  1. Every nine days a teenager in the UK is stabbed.
  2. Knives are the UK’s number one murder weapon.
  3. Knife crime isn’t just a gang issue. 89 per cent of knife
    murders have nothing to do with gang crime.
  4. It’s illegal to carry a knife, unless you have a legitimate reason.
  5. Self-protection is not a reasonable excuse for carrying an
    offensive weapon.
  6. Carrying a knife can mean four years in prison, even if you don’t
    use it.
  7. It’s illegal to buy a knife if you’re under 18 years old.
  8. The police can stop and search anyone they think is carrying a
    weapon.
  9. It’s illegal to buy, sell or carry any type of banned knife.
  10. You don’t have to just stab someone to be in trouble, under a law
    called ‘joint enterprise’ you could end up in prison too
    even if you didn’t touch or use the weapon.
  11. By carrying a knife, you’re much more likely to get stabbed
    yourself as situations involving weapons can quickly get out of
    control.
  12. There is no ‘safe place’ to stab someone.

It’s important to know…If you have a criminal record you might not be accepted into a college or university, get a job, or travel to some countries, like the USA, Canada or Australia.

Sarah’s story – losing Jack

Jack died from a knife fight – just a chance encounter with someone he’d fallen out with over a disagreement – both parties were carrying knives and there was only one blow from each of them. The incident took no more than 30-60 seconds but Jack was fatally injured and died from a single stab wound to the chest’. Jack’s killer was jailed for 18 years.