The Home Office is trying to fight knife crime with…chicken boxes

Ok then


The Home Office is trying to fight knife crime by launching a series of branded boxes for chicken shops.

Over 300,000 black #knifefree boxes will be distributed to branches of Morley’s, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken across England and Wales.

Quick to notice the link made between knife crime and chicken shops, MP David Lammy told The Guardian: “This ridiculous stunt is either explicitly racist or, at best, unfathomably stupid.”

The boxes will have stories of people who chose to pursue things other than carrying a knife. Adverts for the #knifefree campaign will also be showing in screens of some of the shops.

Credit: UK Home Office

Morley’s managing director Shan Selvendran said: “Morley’s are proud to support the #knifefree campaign. We have been saddened by the recent increase in knife crime. We want to promote being knife free by using custom chicken boxes to deliver the message and start conversations amongst all of our customers.”

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott called the campaign “crude, offensive and probably expensive,” arguing money would be better spent investing in communities.

However, Home Secretary Priti Patel accused Lammy of “playing politics with knife crime”.

The boxes are part of a £35 million government spending spree to tackle violent crime.