Why we must work with young people to change attitudes to knives

The knife angel recently toured across the country to warn people about the dangers of knife crime.

The number of people caught with knives and illegal weapons in Leeds has more than doubled in the last five years.

New figures, obtained by the Yorkshire Evening Post as part of our Your Right To Know campaign, show possession of weapons crimes in the city continue to rise year-on-year.

Last year West Yorkshire Police launched Operation Jemlock to crack down on knife crime and serious violence.

While increased police activity is partly attributed to the rise, there is still a real battle to take these weapons off our city’s streets once and for all.

A key factor is working with young people in Leeds to help change their attitudes.

It’s about opening up debates and questioning life choices by looking at the harsh consequences of knife crime.

Campaigners warn that young people are part of the solution when it comes to tackling knife crime.

And firmly at its core it is about empowering change through peers.

Let’s not forget, a single blade can take a life.

Why we must work with young people to change attitudes to knives - the YEP says