We won't stand by and watch children wield weapons

Knife-related murders in the UK have reached an 11-year-high, with nearly half of all fatal attacks involving knives. Too often we hear news stories about children with weapons. Teenagers carry not only kitchen knives, but machetes, zombie knives and even throwing stars.

How our children access and acquire these dangerous weapons is one thing. The Government has introduced measures to make it harder for minors to get their hands on knives.

These legislation changes are supported by campaigners and public figures. You may have seen actor Idris Elba call for innovative solutions to the knife-crime epidemic by suggesting redesigning kitchen knives to have rounded ends. Which I personally think is a creative idea that should be pursued.

But, I have always looked at prevention. How do we go a step further and stop children and young people wanting to carry a knife in the first place?

We’d be negligent to not look at the socio-economic factors that all too often drive them towards violence. A lack of role models in their lives, no viable career prospects and a culture of ‘gang mentality’ can lead someone down a dangerous path.

I may be a Police and Crime Commissioner, but as with most crimes, this problem cannot be solved by law enforcement alone. I welcome the stricter laws, but this needs to be combined with community engagement and early intervention.

In Gloucestershire, we have a bespoke five-year approach to preventing serious violence. It was launched at the start of the year, and my office secured more than £500k from the Home Office to support its implementation.

And you can be assured that our Serious Violence Duty plans include innovative ways of engaging with at-risk kids in our communities and diverting them away from picking up weapons and choosing violence.

For example, the charity Music Works is supported by us to get children engaged in music – playing, writing or editing it. It gives them a creative avenue to express their emotions and gain skills. As well as a career to aspire to.

Similarly, the SkillZONE in Gloucester is an immersive educational venue that takes groups of young people through life-choice scenarios. We fund staff and installations that highlight the danger and consequences of carrying knives, involvement in gangs and county line drug networks.

Knife crime is a violent epidemic, but we are tackling it head-on in Gloucestershire in creative ways.