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24 Education & Career
KNIFE CRIME:
TAKING ACTION
IN NOTTINGHAM
SAD STATISTICS
Over the last twelve months, 344
crimes within Nottingham City
involved use of a knife by an offe
nder.
This includes 186 assaults whe
re a knife has been used to caus
e
injury of which 123 are assaults
which we would class as serio
us
violence. Further to this we hav
e arrested 204 persons for illeg
al
possession of knives in a public
place.
Over the past year, with stabbings in Nottingham
running at a worrying level, Nottingham City
Council’s Community Relations team have begun
a journey to understand knife crime. We wanted
to hear experiences of knife crime, to learn what
drives it, how we can prevent it, and what we can
do to better support victims and perpetrators.
We ran a set of focus groups with some of
Nottingham’s leading community organisations.
WHY CARRY A KNIFE?
On a first glance, the conclusion of these discussions
seems simple: People carry and misuse knives
because of insecurity.
But appearances can be deceiving, because what
underlies this statement is a host of complex
issues: Gangs, drugs, family breakdown, mistrust of
authorities and mental ill-health.
The outcome of this potent brew is a spiral, where
the prevalence of knives leads to increased stabbing
rates, which lead to more knives being carried. It’s
our job to find a way to break this cycle, and help
communities to combat this.
Revenge
When we say knife crime grows from insecurity, we
mean that carrying a blade is seen as a means of
protection; a response to threats.
On top of this, some young men have difficulty
working through conflicts peacefully. When easily-
obtainable knives are added to this mix, the results
are frequently ugly.
A common theme in knife attacks is revenge – when
someone has been stabbed, the stigma of being
victimised may lead them to carry a knife, not only for
protection, but to regain a sense of empowerment.
Reputation
It’s more than protection that people are looking for
when they choose to carry a blade. We noted a sense
of superiority and ‘cool’ around knives – a desire to
foster a fierce reputation with their peers.
This is where gangs enter the picture. Someone
might join a gang for protection, but maintaining
your reputation is key to this. Reaching for a knife is
seen as a potential solution.
But it’s this sense of status-building that leads to
resolving conflicts in the streets, where lives end up
scarred by violence.
Trust
There’s a sense that reporting a stabbing is likely to
make a situation worse, rather than better. When
the Police arrive at a victim’s house in marked cars,
wearing full uniform, their standing in the community
can be diminished if they are seen as trustworthy.
In fact, we heard time and again that victims would
rather engage with CrimeStoppers, the Samaritans,
or local faith leaders, than the Police.
SOLUTIONS FOR BREAKING THE CYCLE
1. Anonymity for victims.
We heard accounts of the severe impacts of knife
crime. Some spoke of experiencing PTSD. The
shame of victimisation feeds the cycle of revenge,
and publication of details in the press is seen as
damaging propaganda.
2. A Community-led approach.
A “restorative justice” approach is often viewed as
preferable to criminalisation – it enables victims to
take an active role in seeking justice, and encourages
offenders to confront the consequences, taking
responsibility for their actions.
Appropriate mentors and long-term support.
What victims need most is support from role models
they can believe in, who have experience of knife
crime. An intervention at the point of crisis may
provide the key to diverting the impulse to seek
revenge – and they could also liaise with Police on
the victim’s behalf.