A guide to knife harm
for parents and carers
Facts to help you feel more confident when talking to
your child about knife harm, as well as practical help and
guidance, and where to find support.
guidance, and where to find support.
Written in conjuction with the Violence Reduction Partnership in Hampshire, Isle of
Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton
This guide is designed to help provide a glossary
of facts, practical advice as well as tips on how to
speak to your child about the dangers associated
with carrying a knife and where you can seek
further help or support.
They may not be carrying a weapon themselves
but are associated with people who are. The
natural reaction is to panic – but this won’t
resolve the situation and could push your
child away.
Whatever the reason a young person is involved
in knife crime, it is likely to have something to
do with fear. Even if they don’t admit it, a young
person getting involved in weapons will be
frightened, and continuously looking over their
shoulder. They will be waiting for the police to
stop and search them, or to be confronted by
others, and in the end will be grateful for a ‘way
out’ of that lifestyle.
It can be extremely worrying to think that your child is
involved in something as dangerous as knife crime.
If you’re worried your child is involved in
knife crime
Page 2 The Ben Kinsella Trust
z It is an oence to carry a knife* in a public
place (such as a road or in a school) or to
carry any article which has a blade or is
sharply pointed.
z It is an oence to carry an oensive weapon in
a public place. This includes any article made,
adapted, or intended for causing injury as
detailed below:
• Made: Made to cause injury, such as a
knuckle duster or bayonets
• Adapted: Something innocent that has
been adapted to cause injury, such as a
broken bottle or a chair leg with nails
• Intended: Anything else, such as an
umbrella or pen that is intended by the
person to be used to cause injury to others
z Carrying a knife includes in your hand, a
pocket, in the boot of your car or if someone
else is carrying a knife for you.
z Exceptions include if you are carrying the knife
as part of your job, such as a tool for a trade.
However, forgetfulness, ignorance to the law
or general self-defence (protection) are not
reasonable excuses if you are caught carrying
a knife.
z It is an oence to use any knife in a
threatening way (even a legal knife)
z It is an oence to sell a knife to anyone
under 18
* Unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long or less. A list of illegal knives can be found here:
gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
Learn about the Law:
What you can do
Page 3How to keep my child safe
To test your knowledge on the law you can
also download the Ben Kinsella Trust’s free
Knife Wise App. This app is an interactive quiz
created by the Ben Kinsella Trust to test your
understanding of the links between choices
and consequences.
z Carrying a weapon increases the risk of them
being injured themselves.
z They could go to jail for up to 4 years if they’re
found in possession of a knife, even if they’re
carrying it for someone else.
z They will get a criminal record, which could
stop them entering university or getting a job,
and places restrictions on countries that they
can travel to, such as the USA, Australia and
Canada.
z In a worst-case scenario, they could end
up using the weapon and seriously
hurting someone.
Make your child aware of
the consequences:
z If you’re worried, parents of your child’s friends
probably are too. They may see your child
in dierent places, hanging out with dierent
friends and could help you get a better
understanding of the situation
z By working together, you could raise
awareness of the issue.
Talk to the parents of your
child’s friends:
Page 4 The Ben Kinsella Trust
z Know what knives and how many you have in
the kitchen and in toolkits at home.
z Monitor any unsual online purchases arriving
at your home. Online retailers and delivery
companies should ask for age verification
when they deliver or when they ask you to
collect age restricted goods.
z Keep engaged with your child or young
person and their use of social media.
z Think about searching their bag and room (is
there evidence of drugs, extra money, or new
clothes?). Think of other hiding spaces that
may be used in your home and remember it
might not be a knife but some other weapon.
z Know where they are and who they are with
(do they have a new circle of friends and are
they becoming less engaged with
their family?).
z Encourage them to ‘hang out’ in safe areas
wherever possible and talk to your child about
places they can go if they are
feeling vulnerable.
z Before disposing of a knife, make sure to wrap
it securely to avoid injury.
z You can dispose of a knife at your local police
station.Some local authorities and charities
oer knife amnesty bins and these may be
placed in prominent locations in your local
area. Search online to see what’s available in
your local area.
How to dispose of a knife
Practical tips on identifying knife crime
Page 5How to keep my child safe
z They fear being a victim of knife crime – this
could be from a specific threat, or a perceived
fear, and are carrying the knife for protection.
This is the most common reason that young
people give us for knife carrying.
z General self-defence – the
‘just in case’ reason.
z They may feel marginalised or alienated.
z Peer pressure or being pressured into
carrying it for someone else.
z They don’t know it’s wrong or they don’t know
it’s illegal.
z To intimidate others (by way of protection).
z To earn respect or street cred.
z There may also be some involvement in other
criminal activities.
This list is not exhaustive but gives reasons why children and
young people may carry knives.
There are many reasons for children to decide to
carry a knife or weapon
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Having the conversation with your child
Find the right time. The conversation needs to
take place wherever they feel safest, which could
be inside the family home. Be available and ready
to listen, as well as reassuring them that they can
be honest with you and let them know you are
not there to judge them.
Speaking to your child or young person about knife crime
requires a direct, and frank conversation. Here is some
guidance you may find useful.
Geing Started
Don’t expect or demand them to talk. If they do,
be patient and try not to react straight away to
what they tell you. Give them the voice in this
conversation and don’t rush to give advice that
they may not be ready to hear. Be empathic.
Listen
Create a non-judgemental and empathic relation-
ship as this will enable your child to share their
fears and feelings. This will help you to better
understand their situation.
Encourage them to share
their fears
Show them that they are being listened to.
Reassure them that the vast majority of young
people don’t carry a knife. If they are fearful of
someone or something specific, tell them that it
can be dealt with without the need for them to
carry a knife.
Be Positive
They might not think you know what you’re
talking about so a little preparation can really
help here.
Stick to the facts
Walking away from confrontation or a fight is the
braver thing to do. If someone pulls a knife on
them, the safest and wisest thing to do is to run
away. Young people fear backlash from their
peers, and fear being targeted by a wider group
for not stepping up to a situation or individual. Re-
mind them that this moment will pass, and atten-
tion will move away from them in time.
Be clear about false ‘bravery’
Page 7How to keep my child safe
Help them reflect on how their actions could
aect the people who care for them the most.
Using a knife is only the beginning. It could place
others at risk of being brought into the situation
against their will. If they were injured, who will
be aected?
The impact
If you start the conversation, be prepared to hear
answers you might not like.
Your child may feel you have no experience of
knife crime or the challenges they face. Are there
any examples from your own childhood that you
can draw upon? Has there been anything in the
news recently or something that’s happened
locally that you can refer to?
Be realistic
It doesn’t have to just be a conversation; you
know your children and what they respond to
best. Try thinking beyond a ‘chat’ and try helping
them understand the risks with knives.
It may be that you learn some worrying things
about your child and the things they’re involved
in. Try not to overreact but don’t feel you have to
deal with this on your own – help is available
You can find more free information
and learning resources on this subject matter
at
benkinsella.org.uk/resources
Find out about safe, fun activities for children and
young people in your local area by searching the
internet or your local council’s website. Ask other
parents and local community leaders about ac-
tivities and safe spaces they know about in your
local area.
Try something different.
Get help and support for
yourself
Suggest alternatives
Page 8 The Ben Kinsella Trust
Here are some facts to help you feel more
confident when talking to your child
If you get caught with a knife, even if it was
for your own protection or you were carrying
it for someone else, you will be arrested and
prosecuted. See page 3.
Geing caught with a knife
Police can and will search you if they believe you
are carrying a knife.
Stop and search
If you get caught with a knife you can be
sentenced to prison of up to 4 years – even if you
have no intention to use the knife.
Prison
If someone is injured or killed by a knife in your
presence, you could be prosecuted even if did
not commit the crime. You could be sent to prison
for murder in what is referred to as
‘joint enterprise’.
Joint enterprise
Alcohol will lower your inhibitions and increases
the chances that you will take a risk.
Alcohol
There is no ‘safe place’ to stab someone.
A wound to the arm or leg can still be life
threatening. A small blade can be enough to cut
an artery leading to death within minutes.
Knife crime can kill
If you have a criminal record, you might not be
accepted into a college or university, get a job,
or travel to some countries, like the USA, Canada
or Australia.
Criminal record
Page 9How to keep my child safe
Services and support for young people and
families and how to report a crime
Free learning resources and information for
parents, teachers, practitioners, and young
people
https://benkinsella.org.uk/resources/
The Ben Kinsella Trust
If your child has been illegally sold a knife, you
can report this to Trading Standards on
03454 04 05 06 or visit https://www.
citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/
report-to-trading-standards/
Citizens Advice
Is an independent charity that gives you
the power to speak up to stop crime, 100%
anonymously. Telephone:
0800 555 111
Website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Crimestoppers
Your child can call Childline on 0800 1111 at any
time if they are worried about their own safety.
Childline
Gives advice on all aspects of parenting and is
open 24/7. Calls are free on
0808 800 2222 or
visit
familylives.org.uk
Family Lives
NSPCC (The National Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children): Their helpline provides
information and advice to parents and others
concerned about young people who may be
involved or aected by gang activity. Their
helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. Freephone:
0808 800 5000. Email: help@
nspcc.org.uk
Web: nspcc.org.uk/gangs
NSPCC
To find details of your local team and find out
more about the work they are doing in your area,
type your postcode at
www.police.uk. You should
call 101 to report crime and other concerns that do
not require an emergency response. Call
999 in
an emergency.
The Police
Support for families and young people (11-30
years old)
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk
The Princes Trust
A national charity which helps people aected by
crime. Web:
victimsupport.org
Victim Support
Fearless is a service that allows young people
to pass on information about crime 100%
anonymously.
https://www.fearless.org/
Fearless
Page 10 The Ben Kinsella Trust
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