Brighton Hill Community College target knife crime

Officers from the Basingstoke Safer Neighbourhoods Team have joined forces with Brighton Hill Community College to educate pupils about knife crime.

The college became the first school in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to use a knife arch within the school to detect offensive weapons.

The operation, held on Monday, March 30, was coordinated by Schools Engagement Officer, PC Helen Crockford, who has been proactively working will all schools within the Basingstoke area.

The governors and headteacher at Brighton Hill Community College invited officers into the school to reinforce and demonstrate their zero tolerance approach to weapons.

The date of the search was decided by the headteacher, however parents received letters in advance informing them of the school’s intentions.

Some 90 pupils from years 11 and nine were selected at random to walk through the knife arch. If the alarm sounded, the pupil and their bag were searched.

In total, 30 bag and person searches were conducted and no offensive weapons were found.

PC Helen Crockford said: “Knife crime is a very topical issue surrounding young people today. A MORI survey for the Youth Justice Board found that 29 per cent of secondary school children, along with 57 per cent of those excluded, admitted to routinely carrying knives.

“The purpose of our operation is to remind young people about the risks of carrying knives. Not only do you risk getting a criminal record or going to prison if caught, but one in three knife-related injuries are caused by the victim’s own knife.

“We are pleased to see schools taking such a proactive stance; even when knife crime isn’t an issue within their school.”

Headteacher David Eyre said: “We see this as a positive and proactive measure to make our school as safe as possible and welcome the cooperation and support of the police in helping us to achieve this"

As part of its Safer Streets campaign, Hampshire Constabulary offers the following advice to anyone thinking of carrying a knife:

• It is illegal for anyone to carry a knife without lawful authority or reasonable excuse
• Carrying a knife will mean that you will be arrested and end up with a criminal record that could affect your whole life, future job prospects, going to college or university and travelling abroad. You could end up going to prison
  One in three knife-related injuries is caused by the victim’s own knife
• You can die from just one stab wound

Anyone with any information about knife crime can contact Hampshire Constabulary on 0845 045 45 45. Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you know someone who carries a knife, you can send a text anonymously to Crimestoppers. All you need to put is their name, the school they go to and where it is and text 88551. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously via their website www.crimestoppers-org.uk