South Yorkshire Police launch campaign to combat youth knife crime

South Yorkshire Police has launched a new initiative aiming to deter teenage boys from carrying knives.

The Knives Take Lives movement targets boys aged 11 to 14 and seeks to tackle the misconceptions that carrying a knife provides protection.

South Yorkshire Police says that while research suggests many young people carry knives due to peer pressure or a false sense of security, carrying a knife actually increases personal risk.

Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Poolman said: “There can be a perception among some members of our communities, particularly some younger teens, that many of their peers are carrying a knife. This builds fear and leads them to believe they must carry too, to protect themselves.

“In reality, 99.75 per cent of people in South Yorkshire don’t carry a knife, and sadly we know all too well that carrying a knife in fact puts you in further danger. Fewer knives on our streets reduce the risk of another local family grieving the loss of a loved one.”

South Yorkshire ranks as the fourth highest region in the country for knife crime offences, by volume and as a rate per 100,000 of the population. In 2024, five people in the region died as a result of being stabbed.

The campaign is based on a real-life fatal stabbing in South Yorkshire, investigated by Detective Constable Thomas Ryan. After witnessing the devastation caused by knife crime, DC Ryan was motivated to take action and help prevent further tragedies.

The Knives Take Lives launch took place at The Sheffield College’s Hillsborough Campus, with students from UC Sheffield contributing to the campaign’s design and messaging.

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Angela Foulkes CBE, Chief Executive and Principal of The Sheffield College, said: “Raising awareness about the devastating impact of knife crime and how students can keep themselves safe is vital.

“I would like to thank our UC Sheffield students for supporting this initiative and working in partnership with South Yorkshire Police on such an important campaign.”

The campaign also highlights real-life stories, including that of Ryan Theobald, a 20-year-old murdered alongside his friend Janis Kozlovskis in Doncaster three years ago.

South Yorkshire Police are urging families to start conversations about the dangers of carrying knives to prevent further tragedies.

For more information, resources, and anonymous reporting methods, visit the Knives Take Lives website.

Featured image: Google Maps/South Yorkshire Police