Young people lead the fight against knife crime
Un(h)armed was a peer-led education and training project aimed at reducing the potential for knife crime involving young people and the fear this generates Please upgrade your Flash player to view this content
The DVD, called 'Un(h)armed Digital Media Project – Reducing the fear of knife crime' was created by young people directly affected by knife crime and who wanted to stop other young people going through the same experience.
Young people from the Wokingham Baptist Church Youth Group, were involved in this project from the very start. They saw education as key in combating a developing knife culture where carrying a weapon is seen as acceptable. They fund raised for the project undertook extensive research, interviewing young people on their attitudes, experts in the field, representatives from Crimestoppers and the local authority. They then devised recorded and edited several short films illustrating different aspects of the problem
By using new technology to deliver the message, they aimed to get the message across to as many young people as possible.
Their aim was to work with other young people to plan record, edit and produce a DVD and supporting information for use in schools and the wider community.
The DVD is a mixture of interviews and dramas. Through their research and interviews, the young people found out a lot of facts and explored ways which knives are perceived by young people and society as a whole. The scenarios and dramas were written and developed by the young people. They also selected venues and recruited other young people as actors.
Fact Knife crime is a growing issue: in the last decade the number of people sentenced for a knife crime has risen by over 1,000 percent (from 114 in 1996 to over 1,200 in 2006). Hansard
It is the young people’s intention that the DVD complete with supporting information and a lesson plan for teachers will promote:
Un(h)armed received a lot of press attention including a feature on ITN local news. Thames Valley Police have supported the group by assisting in the creating of the films and with distribution. Several of the young people from the group have been inspired to continue their involvement with Real Time, volunteering on other projects.