Government to Fund Specialist Training in Schools
Up to 250 schools located in knife crime hotspots will receive specialist training aimed at diverting children from serious violence, the government has announced. A £1.2 million investment will support initiatives such as mentoring for high-risk students and the deployment of chaperones on school routes.
This announcement coincides with the government’s forthcoming detailed plan to achieve its goal of halving knife crime within the next decade.
Political Reactions to the Announcement
The Conservative Party criticized the government, accusing it of a "massive cheek" and stating that it "created this mess in the first place with their police cuts." Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats commented that "these measures alone won't be enough to end the plight" of knife crime.
Knife Crime Trends and Research
According to data published by the Office for National Statistics in January, knife crime continued a downward trend in 2025, with offences decreasing by 9% compared to the previous year and pre-Covid levels. Although urban areas have traditionally experienced higher rates of knife crime, some research indicates that the issue has become more widespread over time.
Safety In and Around Schools Partnership
The Safety In and Around Schools Partnership will provide training for school leaders on the risks associated with knife crime and will develop "local solutions to improve pupil safety and prevent serious violence." The government stated that approximately 50 of the 250 schools will receive more intensive and tailored support.
Additionally, new hyper-local mapping technology developed by the Home Office will identify knife crime hotspots with precision down to 10 square meters (107.6 square feet). This technology is intended to help police pinpoint areas with the highest knife crime rates, particularly during children’s commutes to school, and to determine which schools would benefit most from intervention.
Partnership and Implementation
The partnership is managed by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), a charity focused on preventing violence among young people, and is supported by the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice, and the Home Office.
YEF informed the BBC that the programme will be delivered in phases, beginning with "early engagement" during the current school year, followed by "more intensive support" in the next academic year. The initiative will place children and their experiences at its core, aiming to assist schools in understanding when and where pupils feel safe.
A specialist school self-assessment tool will also be incorporated into the training programme.
Statements from Key Figures
Jon Yates, YEF CEO and member of the government's Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said: "We know what works to prevent knife crime - a trusted adult, someone to talk to, social and emotional support, [and also] opportunities like sport. This programme - backed by the government - aims to bring that support to more of our school children, giving them the chance to live a life free from violence and keeping more young people safe from harm."
Justice Secretary David Lammy said the funding will help protect children and build "the safer streets every community deserves."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of having "a massive cheek" making its announcement while cutting total police numbers. He said: "In London, they even scrapped dedicated police officers in schools completely - and now they claim to be worried about the resulting school crime. They created this mess in the first place with their police cuts." Philp added that the Conservatives would "go further and be tougher" with "zero tolerance" for violence or serious disruption in schools.
Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Jess Brown-Fuller said: "Too many young lives have been lost to knife crime and schools have been crying out for further support to tackle it, but these measures alone won't be enough to end the plight. The government needs to focus on returning to proper community policing where people know their local officer, and ensure that right across the country young people have access to youth services."
Youth Clubs and Future Support
The announcement coincides with the opening of the first wave of youth clubs designed to provide young people with support related to employment and wellbeing across England.
Eight young futures hubs will open in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour, including Bristol, Nottingham, and Leeds. These locations have been prioritized for the initial phase, with plans for a total of 50 hubs to open nationwide.
