Knife crime campaign comes to local schools and colleges

A knife crime campaign has been brought to local schools and colleges recently, highlighting the dangers of carrying knives and how to get help.

The Welwyn Hatfield Community Safety Partnership* organised information stalls at the following schools and colleges:

• Stanborough School, Welwyn Garden City on Wednesday 22 November
• Oaklands College, Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 16 November
• Links Academy, Hatfield on Wednesday 15 November
• Onslow St Audrey's School, Hatfield on Monday 13 November

At each event, officers from the constabulary’s Children & Young People Team spoke to students, promoting the Lives Not Knives campaign. They were also joined by representatives from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

The events formed part of the national knife crime week of action Operation Sceptre which ran from Monday 13 November and Sunday 19 November 2023.

Welwyn Hatfield Chief Inspector Kash Hussain said: “Empowering young people to make the right choices can have far reaching consequences. I’d like to thank all the students who took the time to speak to our officers.

“Tackling knife crime is a priority in Welwyn Hatfield and Op Sceptre gave us an opportunity to reaffirm that commitment to the public. We also carried out knife sweeps and had a knife bin at Hatfield Police Station so that people could safely surrender any knives.

“If you or someone you know feels they are in a situation where they feel like carrying a knife is their only option please tell us anonymously or openly. Alternatively, encourage them to talk to someone about their situation and seek some help. That conversation could be all it takes to stop a tragic incident from occurring.”

Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, Executive Member, Environment at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said: “We’re proud to support the Lives Not Knives campaign and the efforts of the Welwyn Hatfield Community Safety Partnership to educate our young people about the dangers and consequences of carrying knives. Knife crime is a serious issue that affects not only the victims and their families, but also the whole community. We want to create a safe and positive environment for our students, where they can learn, grow, and achieve their potential. By working together with the police, schools, colleges, and other partners, we can help prevent knife crime and make Welwyn Hatfield a safer place for everyone.”

If you are concerned or have information about someone carrying knives or are aware of anyone involved in knife crime you can report this by calling the Hertfordshire Constabulary non-emergency number 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form (opens in a new window).  

If you would like information on support services relating to knife crime, visit the ‘Fearless’ website (opens in a new window).  

*The Community Safety Partnership is a group of local organisations that share the same goal to keep the Welwyn Hatfield community a safe place to live, work and study. It includes Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council, East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and justice services.

The visit to Stanborough School

The visit to Oaklands College