Police chief calls on parents and teachers to help in fight against knife crime
Teachers and parents are being called on by West Midlands Police to assist in the fight against knife crime.
Chief Constable Dave Thompson wants them to have 'heart-to-heart conversations' with children in a bid to steer young people away from knives.
It comes as knife crime across the region continues to rise.
In a letter to councils, Mr Thompson said he wanted to ensure the recent deaths of knife victims, such as Keelan Wilson in Wolverhampton, were not in vain.
As part of the move, Mr Thompson visited a school in Lozells in Birmingham to speak to teachers and parents. West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson appeared alongside him.
Mr Thompson said: "We have to be open and talk about the evil of knives and the trail of devastation they can cause. This can’t be done by anyone alone; we need schools, parents, police and all our other partners to play a part.
"By having conversations at an early age, both at school and home, about the awful consequences of carrying a knife this can impact on ways of thinking. It can stop someone from not only ruining their own but other lives.
"We will enforce the law to its fullest when anyone chooses to carry a knife; but we are determined to stop it even reaching that point.
"The recent knife murders over the last few weeks have left us all sickened. As adults we owe it to our young people to work with them to make them safe this summer.”
A video has been released online, and been made available to schools, which shows the impact of knife crime.
West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: “Knife crime ruins lives and devastates families.
"A decision by a young person to carry a weapon can result in horrific circumstances.
"It is vital we warn children at a young age of the dangers they face from carrying knives or guns and stress they have a choice to make."
