Parents back police knife crime project at Walsall primary school - here's why
West Midlands Police have launched a new 'pilot' project at a Walsall primary school in a bid to educate young pupils about the dangers of carrying knives.
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The project is being piloted at Busill Jones Primary School in Bloxwich.
Parents showed support for the new campaign, with many being behind the project, which aims to raise awareness and educate pupils about the dangers of knife crime, the law around carrying knives and the potential consequences of their misuse.
Year six pupils took part in the project, which was being run by PC Zena Hands, the Early Help Officer at the Walsall Local Policing Authority, who worked alongside Troy Tolley, the family liaison officer at the school.
Talking about the project, PC Hands, said: "Both Mrs Tolley and myself are very passionate about the prevention of knife crime in our communities and we believe the best place to start is early intervention into primary schools.
“Our aim is to educate children at a young age about the dangers of carrying knives, laws surrounding them and the potential consequences of their misuse."
All year six pupils will be given the task of creating a half-term to create a poster on knife crime prevention.
Three posters will be chosen and put on display around Bloxwich and Blakenall for the community to see.
Ten knife crime prevention ambassadors will also be chosen and these pupils will help mentor other children on the subject of knife crime.
PC Hands continued: "By empowering the children with knowledge it helps to equip them to cope in challenging situations they face and to make sound decisions.
“We invited parents into the school to discuss the project with them. The parents told us they felt the importance of educating their children at primary school age and empowering them to make good choices as they move to secondary school.
“The sessions are impactful but we are delivering them in a sensitive way. So far we have had some really good discussions with the children and they are responding well to the topic.“Our goal is to roll the project out to all Walsall primary schools.”
As part of the project, pupils already received a valuable session with PC Hands, where they explored the dangers of carrying knives.
When asked why they think some young people might carry knives, they said that they think it is for 'protection' or to appear 'cool'.
