Charity Urges Mandatory Knife Crime Education in Primary Schools
Safety Centre Calls for National Curriculum Reform Amid Rising Concerns
A leading UK safety charity is calling for knife crime prevention education to become a mandatory part of the national curriculum for all primary school children. The Safety Centre, based in Milton Keynes, believes early intervention is crucial to reducing the long-term risk of knife-related violence among young people.
Chief Executive Maya Joseph-Hussain emphasized the importance of early education, stating: “Every young child should have access to this education. The sooner we equip them, the sooner we increase their chances of staying safe and leading safe and happy lives.”
Knife Crime Trends Prompt Urgent Action
Knife crime remains a persistent issue across England and Wales. Government data revealed a 4% increase in knife-enabled crimes in the year ending September 2024, compared with the previous 12 months. However, Thames Valley Police, the force local to Buckinghamshire, reported an 8% decline over the same period — in part thanks to local intervention initiatives.
The Safety Centre began offering knife crime prevention sessions to children aged nine and above after observing concerning crime trends. More than 20,000 children and young people have now taken part in these sessions since 2022.
What Do the Sessions Teach?
The charity’s hands-on sessions teach pupils how to remove themselves from difficult situations, understand criminal responsibility, and grasp the concept of joint enterprise — where individuals can be convicted for participating in a crime, even if they didn’t directly commit it.
One such session recently hosted a group of 20 children aged 10 and 11, helping them identify risky scenarios and discuss safe decision-making with trained educators.
Current Curriculum Lacks Mandate
Knife crime education is currently included within Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), but it is not compulsory. The National Education Union (NEU) argues that the current system “does not allow for enough time for important matters to be sufficiently discussed and addressed, such as knife crime prevention.”
NEU representatives added that issues like knife violence “do not begin and end at the school gates,” and urged the government to introduce clearer mandates and support for schools.
Government Reviewing RSHE Guidance
The Department for Education has confirmed it is reviewing how topics like knife crime are taught as part of a broader overhaul of RSHE guidance. The results of this review are expected to be published in autumn 2025.
“We are reviewing the RSHE curriculum to make sure it remains relevant and protects children’s well-being,” a government spokesperson said.
Advocates like Maya Joseph-Hussain remain hopeful that the upcoming review will lead to stronger, more consistent safety education in all UK schools — potentially saving lives in the long term.
Category: Education, Crime & Safety, UK News, Government Policy
Tags: knife crime education, Safety Centre charity, primary school safety UK, RSHE review, Maya Joseph-Hussain, Thames Valley Police knife crime, national curriculum UK, school crime prevention, UK education reform
