Newcastle United Foundation and Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light have joined forces to promote the Knives Impact Everyone campaign launched by Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness and local families who have lost loved ones to violence.

Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC, alongside their registered charities will be championing the impactful campaign across their social media channels, whilst hard-hitting messages will also feature on digital advertising stands at the Stadium of Light during the upcoming FA Cup derby match.

The Knives Impact Everyone campaign was launched in 2023, by Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness and the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, to highlight the devastating consequences carrying a knife can have, as well as sign-posting people to support and advice. As part of this work, Northumbria Police fund projects at both Newcastle United Foundation and the Foundation Light, with the YOLO initiative aimed at steering young people away from knife crime, whilst also creating a range of opportunities and support to help young people make positive life choices away from crime.

Through a range of emotionally charged graphics, undelivered messages show the heart-breaking reality of knife crime along with the words: “Knife crime cuts deep. Whether you’re carrying or you’re a victim of knife crime, the consequences impact everyone; family, friends, emergency services and communities.”

Backing the campaign, former Sunderland AFC Striker Kevin Phillips said: “Whatever your background, whatever your club, we have to unite on this so young people walk away from violence. We need to get in front of kids about the dangers and consequences of knives and we are supporting this campaign to do just that.”

Newcastle United Foundation Trustee and former player, Shola Ameobi, said: “Football is so powerful in this part of the world, and it means so much to people of all ages. Football can influence behaviour in young people and inspire them in so many different ways. I’ve seen first-hand for years the work that Newcastle United Foundation does in the community to make positive changes to the lives of those who need guidance and support. The power of the Newcastle United badge is really special to making a positive difference. The YOLO project alongside the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit is made a significant impact to so many young people in the region and it is great to see the work continuing.”

Kim McGuinness said: “Our football clubs are at the heart of so much that is good about the North East, and it is great to see them setting aside rivalry off the pitch to come together and stand up to knife crime. We’re all proud of region, and this is a strong message that we, the clubs, the fans, the families, are determined to keep it a great place to live.”

The campaign was developed alongside school children from across the region, with the aim of making young people think before picking up a knife, by understanding the impact and consequences of their actions.

Upon launching the campaign, it received widespread support and was backed by Northumbria Police as well as Samantha’s Legacy and The Connor Brown Trust, who have sadly experienced the devastating consequences of knife crime first hand.

Through the popular 20-week YOLO programme delivered in both Foundations, young people are provided with a mentor and the chance to take part in one-to-one sessions, and engage in activities such as sport, music, art, social action projects, as well as tailored interventions to support them in making positive behaviour change and address their needs.

MEDIA RELEASE

POLICE will be out in force this party season to help make sure the North East remains a safe place for a night out.

The investment in additional police activity comes as a result of Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s office securing £422,000 in funding to build on her Women’s Safety in Public Places project.

A mix of uniform and plain-clothed officers will be deployed as part of a brand new operation – Operation Salus – set up to keep party-goers safe.

It will begin in the coming weeks, as the night-time economy gears up for the festive celebrations.

Officers will be using new ways to gather intelligence and keep everyone safe as well as actively seeking to catch anyone they suspect could have the intention of offending or posing a risk to people’s safety.

There will also be a focus on capturing CCTV evidence to ensure anyone who commits crimes like spiking drinks or operating fake taxis is put before the courts.

The new operation comes off the back of Northumbria Police’s highly successful Operation Cloak. This operation sees officers on the lookout for signs of vulnerability so they can step in and help. Last year efforts helped lead to a 30 per cent reduction in rapes and serious assaults in Newcastle City Centre.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “I’ve always said the North East boasts not only some of the best nights out but some of the safest too and this is because our Police and partners are working hard with operations like this – dedicated to preventing crime.

“As well as officers immersing themselves in the night-time economies there will be officers reviewing CCTV – examining behaviours, flagging concerns, and capturing evidence that can be used before the courts.

“I want people to be heading out on their Christmas parties knowing officers are taking these types of crimes very seriously and we are doing everything we can to stop them to keep our region and its people safe.”

Chief Supt Barrie Joisce, from Northumbria Police, said: “The North East is well known for having a welcoming and safe nightlife and is one of the many reasons people are attracted to the region.

“We proactively police the night-time economy and have both uniformed and plain-clothed officers on patrol to protect those who may be vulnerable and target anyone looking to commit offences.

“We also work with a range of partners, including local authorities, businesses, licensees, door supervisors, hotel staff, street pastors and taxi drivers, so we can all come together to help keep people safe.

“When offences do occur we take them extremely seriously and are committed to supporting victims and bringing offenders to justice.

“We are proud of the role we play within the night-time economy and our dedicated approach has been rolled-out elsewhere in the country.

“We are committed to building on this activity to help ensure people can continue to have a safe and enjoyable time while on a night out.”

Police would always encourage anyone who has concerns to speak to an officer or contact them as soon as possible. In an emergency always call 999.

Other measures will help keep women and girls safe as part of the Women’s Safety in Public Places project funded through Safer Streets Round 5. They include:

• WSiPP Wardens Local Authority led intervention where ‘Active Bystander’ trained staff will undertake foot patrols in public places where people have told us the Commissioner’s office, they feel unsafe.
• ‘Lead the Change’ Active Bystander Training Train the Trainer programme for local Change Leaders to train up local community members to understand and address sexism, sexual harassment and threatening behaviours that makes women and girls feel unsafe.
• Engaging men and boys in the development of the #ItAllAddsUp campaign work to highlight harmful attitudes and behaviour that breed VAWG.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED as the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit awards almost £16,000 to fund projects developed by young people, in a bid to tackle violent crime and improve feelings of safety in local communities.

The Local Youth Fund provides young people with a platform to voice their ideas for projects and activities that have a benefit to them and the areas they live in.

More than 4,600 young people have already benefited from nearly £30,000 handed out in previous rounds of the fund.

This latest round will see a further 600 young people get involved in projects they have developed themselves, and thanks to this fund, their ideas will now become a reality.

With the results now in, the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit is delighted to reveal the projects receiving a share of the funding:

• Acumen Community Group will offer after-school drop in sessions, creating a safe space for young people to socialise. During this time, they plan to work on projects that increase their peers’ awareness of the dangers associated with knife crime.
• Amble Youth Project will work on improving their youth café, where young people can learn how to cook healthy meals. The group are keen for this space to provide an alternative to congregating on the streets, where they spend time with friends, and learn how to keep themselves safe.
• Escape Intervention Group have put together an activities programme for their peers, including boxing classes, paddle boarding and go-karting. With access to these new opportunities, they feel it will improve their confidence and wellbeing.
• The Chess Project will hold sessions where young people can share their views and suggestions on ASB and violent crime with the various services responsible for keeping them safe, ensuring their voice is part of all decisions made in their community.
• Throckley Youth Group will arrange a football match that brings together young people and representatives from key services, with the aim of building relationships, breaking down barriers and providing an opportunity to start having conversations on topics such as knife crime and personal safety.
• Winlaton Youth Group will create a knife crime awareness campaign aimed at young people, featuring artwork to get their attention, and encouraging them to start talking about the dangers, as well as the importance of making good choices.

Thanks to the Violence Reduction Unit working closely with NE Youth, each application to the fund has been thoroughly reviewed by a panel of 12 young people, creating an opportunity to share their experiences and unique perspectives, whilst also gaining key skills for their future.

The panel said that there had been lots of good ideas put forward, making selecting the six winning applications a difficult task, and as projects now get underway, they are looking forward to providing mentoring support to their peers.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “The youth fund is one of many initiatives from the Violence Reduction Unit, that puts young people at the heart of its decision-making and gives them the chance to tell us how they think violent crime can be prevented – and they have done just that.”

“Young people often tell me that they want to be part of the solution when it comes to tackling violent crime, and this fund gives them a platform to voice their views and ideas – and I can’t think of a better way than just simply asking them what they want.”

“In previous rounds of this fund, young people have gained confidence, improved physical and mental health and got the chance to learn new skills. That’s why it makes it all the more important to keep giving them access to positive opportunities, where we can support them in making good choices.”

“I would like to thank everyone who has applied to this latest round; there have been some wonderful ideas.”

On behalf of the North East Youth Alliance, NE Youth Chief Executive Jon Niblo said: We were incredibly proud of the young people who participated in the panel discussions. They took their role and responsibilities very seriously to ensure that the funding was allocated appropriately. Well done to all successful applicants and good luck with your projects.

For more information about the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, visit the website.

ENDS

A programme of targeted activity to prevent violent crime is underway across the region, following significant reductions of up to 37% from similar plans put in place during the summer months.

This activity resulted in areas of South Tyneside seeing the largest drop in serious violence following increased efforts to identify young people at risk, and engage them in diversionary activities to deter them from crime.

In Sunderland, additional resource provided an extra 300 hours of policing patrols to carry out dispersal orders, stop and searches and respond to safeguarding concerns to keep people safe.

Having already embedded this targeted approach in its strategy for driving down violent crime, the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit is working closely with Northumbria Police and the regions six Community Safety Partnerships, ensuring preventative measures are in place to make communities safer this winter.

The programme features a range of initiatives aimed at disrupting violent offenders and improving feelings of safety, including:

• Deploying uniformed police officers and community safety staff in targeted locations to increase visibility.
• Utilising enforcement action where needed such as arrests, dispersal orders and stop and searches.
• Taxi marshals in operation to increase public reassurance and reduce disorder.
• Diversionary activities to engage young people such as a range of sports initiatives to improve physical and mental health.

This increased action will be will be carried out throughout the winter period as everyone looks to enjoy the many events, nights out and festive celebrations that are set to take place in towns and cities across the region.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “This proactive initiative allows us to get ahead of problems by identifying and engaging with those at risk of violent crime. It also places a stark warning to offenders that we will not tolerate violence – and the best thing about this approach is that we know it works.”

“We have seen the significant impact it has made over the summer, but there is still so much more to do. That’s why the Violence Reduction Unit, Northumbria Police and our partners have expanded on this crucial work, by putting together a programme of targeted activity and support in areas of most need, to drive down winter violence.”

She added: “I’ve said it before, but I will say it again, violence does not belong in our communities. So, I hope that by seeing this work in action, it will provide some reassurance that we will continue to do all we can do tackle violent crime.”

Cllr Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “This is an excellent example of partners working collaboratively, and the significant reduction in violent crime over the summer is testament to the fact that this kind of proactive, preventative approach is effective.”

“Violent crime can have a devastating impact on victims, their families and our communities. We want everyone to feel safe in our borough so will continue to work alongside our partners to protect our residents and drive down crime.”

Funded through the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit’s Seasonal Violence Fund, this approach brings together a range of key partners including police, local authorities and youth organisations, working collaboratively to tackle violent crime and create safer communities.

For more information about the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, visit the website.

ENDS

The Local Youth Fund has returned, providing young people across the region with a platform to voice their views on how violent crime is tackled, by bidding for a share of the £16,000 fund.

This comes as Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness’s Violence Reduction Unit launched its Knives Impact Everyone campaign, highlighting the devastating consequences carrying a knife can have, as well as pointing young people to further information and support.

Now this exciting initiative provides an opportunity for young people to feel empowered to join the fight against violent crime by not only developing projects that matter to them, but those that will also have a positive impact on their local areas.

Nearly 4000 young people have already directly benefited from previous rounds of this fund, with a range of projects delivered to improve communities and ultimately make them feel safer thanks to almost £30,000 handed out.

For this new funding round, the Violence Reduction Unit have commissioned NE Youth to support with the delivery, and sees young people who attend their youth sessions recruited to form a panel, putting them at the forefront of the decision making process and giving a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills for their future.

With the fund now open, young people are once again encouraged to work with their local community groups and youth organisations to develop and submit their ideas for projects to prevent knife crime and increase feelings of safety in their communities.

When the fund closes on 13^th November 2023, the youth panel will take on the responsibility of assessing all bids put forward by young people and selecting one successful project per local authority area to receive a share of the funding.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness said: “When it comes to tackling violent crime, young people have told us that they want to be part of the solution – and that’s why initiatives like this are so important as they provide a platform for them to be heard. No one should feel the need to carry a knife or bring violence to our local communities, which is why I want young people to tell me what actions they want to see happening, what would improve their local areas and what will make them feel safer.”

She added: “After consulting with young people across the region, the Violence Reduction Unit released the Knives Impact Everyone campaign, which helps us to continue getting important information to young people on the dangers, consequences and impact of carrying and using knives. This fund now goes that extra step further by giving young people the tools they need to develop their own projects and crucially provides access to positive opportunities that reduce their chances of becoming involved in violent crime. Together we can really make a difference in building safer communities for all.”

On behalf of the North East Youth Alliance, NE Youth Chief Executive Jon Niblo said: “We are delighted to be once again collaborating with the Violence Reduction Unit on this important fund for Young People. Young People continue to raise concerns about their own safety and this fund provides an opportunity to lead a project or activity that contributes towards making our communities safer.”

To apply for a share of the Local Youth Fund, visit the NE Youth website or for more information, please contact the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit by email vru@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

Schools across the region are set to receive new guidance on how they can effectively respond to an incident should a knife or offensive weapon be brought onto school grounds.

As part of an on-going commitment to tackling knife crime and ensuring the safety of students and teachers, the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Northumbria Police and local councils have come together to develop this vital guidance for schools.

The guidance was a welcome step at the recent Newcastle community safety meeting, and follows early work from South Tyneside Council, which has been adapted for use across the region to ensure teachers know how to respond if a bladed weapon is found on school premises.

Within the guidance, further information is provided on safely searching a young person suspected of carrying a knife, how to record the incident and when to contact the police.

The guidance also takes a preventative approach by looking to establish why an individual may be carrying a knife and if there are any underlying concerns or risks to address in order to prevent serious and violent crime.

This comes as part of the Violence Reduction Unit’s wider work to educate young people on the impact and consequences of knife crime through its dedicated education team, as well as its Student Support Champions currently working with pupils in Newcastle secondary schools.

Speaking about the new guidance for schools, Director of the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Steven Hume said: “This comprehensive guidance provides a unified approach to addressing incidents involving knives should they be brought into schools, whilst also focusing on prevention and support for those involved. It is essential to equip schools with the tools and knowledge they need to respond to an incident if one were to occur, however no one should be feel the need to carry a knife. The roll out of the guidance is a very important step in tackling knife crime, which will see it sit alongside the wider work of the Violence Reduction Unit and our partners.”

Cllr Paula Maines, Cabinet member for a Resilient City at Newcastle City Council, said: “The safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff at schools is of paramount importance to us. The new guidance is part of our on-going commitment to tackle knife crime and ensures schools have the tools to respond to incidents in a safe and effective manner. We remain committed to working with partners to ensure our schools and communities continue to be safe places where young people can thrive and reach their full potential.”

Chief Superintendent Joanne Park-Simmons, of Northumbria Police, said: “Tackling knife crime is a priority for the Force and we all have a role to play in highlighting the devastation knife crime can cause. A huge amount of work is ongoing with partners to prevent people getting involved in this type of offending, including with schools to educate young people about the dangers of carrying weapons. As ever, we would ask families to continue having those conversations about the potentially fatal and irreversible consequences that carrying a knife can have.”

For more information, please contact the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit by email vru@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk