Knife Crime Awareness Week

Let’s take a moment to reflect as Knife crime continues to have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities across Croydon. During Knife Crime Awareness Week, we come together to shine a light on this issue, raising awareness of its consequences and the importance of prevention.


Croydon Crime data covering the period February 2024 to January 2025 taken from Met Police Crime Data Dashboard shows Knife Crime Offence Count of 751.

It’s crucial that we remember that behind every statistic is a real person, and every life lost or changed forever due to knife crime represents a tragedy that could have been avoided. We all have a role to play in addressing this problem — whether through supporting those who are vulnerable, educating young people about the dangers, or advocating for positive change in our communities.


Knife crime awareness week serves as a reminder to all of us: we can create safer spaces, strengthen youth engagement, and provide the tools for conflict resolution without violence. It’s time for us to unite as a community, fostering a culture of respect and responsibility, where knives are no longer seen as a weapon to bring harm to others.


Together, we can make a difference. Stand up, speak out, and let’s work towards a future free from knife crime in Croydon and across the UK.


Labour Government Policy paper Crime and Policing Bill: Knife crime factsheet Published 25 February 2025. Crime and Policing Bill 2025: Factsheets

What are we going to do? 

We are going to ensure that the police and the courts have the necessary powers to get offensive weapons off the streets and help tackle knife crime. Measures in the Crime and Policing Bill will: 
(a) Enable the police to seize, retain and destroy knives held in private when they are lawfully on private property and have reasonable grounds to suspect the item(s) will likely be used in connection with unlawful violence. 
(b) Increase the maximum penalty, from six months’ imprisonment to two years’ imprisonment, for the offences of private possession, importation, manufacture, sale or supply of prohibited offensive weapons and knives and of selling knives to those under 18. 
(c) Introduce a new offence of possession of a knife or offensive weapon in public or private with intent to use unlawful violence. The offence will carry a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment. 
End


What can you do at a local level?
Join your local Labour Party to champion community safety and put People First.


Support community-led initiatives by collaborating with local organisations and individuals who are already working to address knife crime.

Contact your Ward Councillor or Met Police Safer Neighbourhood Team to find out about Ward Panels. See more at this link:
Forms used by SNT for applications from members of the public seeking to join the local SNT ward panels.


Cllr Enid Mollyneaux