Knife crime in Birkenhead was raised at a mini-summit last Friday.
In 2011 a young Birkenhead resident, Jenny Minnis, witnessed a friend stabbed to death. Jenny is anxious that more young people in Birkenhead should know the risks of carrying knives.
Jenny asked to meet our chief constable Jon Murphy and our new police commissioner Jane Kennedy.
Jenny is interested in what is being done to raise the awareness of young people about the dangers of carrying knives. The overall figures show a fall over the last three years, but they are expected to rise this year.
There's currently a lot on the chief constable’s plate. Police budgets are being cut. Not the easiest of circumstances for someone to make a plea for extra resources to counter knifecrime.
But that was the plea the Jenny made. And both the chief constable and police commissioner were receptive.
Our next move is to find out who else is also working on this important issue. Jenny intends to join forces with them, particularly in looking at material for schools.
Will students write a short play on the dangers of carrying knives? And which school might make a film?
We’re also looking at how support can be improved for families and individuals who have lost loved ones due to knife murders.
There is much work to be done, but no-one who saw Jenny in action on Friday could doubt that she is the person who will best drive this campaign.
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