What steps is the Minister taking to promote awareness of knife crime in secondary schools?
The main ways to promote awareness of knife crime in secondary schools continues to be educating young people in better behaviour and in the dangers of illegally carrying a knife. A range of activities contribute to this awareness raising and these include programmes in school on improving behaviour and also curriculum opportunities for learning about responsibility, conflict, and safety.
Police School Liaison Officers are also a key source of help here. The Wales Police Schools Programme helps promote knife crime awareness within secondary schools through a range of short presentations and assemblies. These presentations have been carefully designed to target different age groups. Year 9 students across Wales receive a classroom lesson under the programme called ‘Why weapons’ which specifically focusses on knife crime and violence.