Summit at family centre to tackle knife crime

Groups from around the country are gathering for the knife crime summit

A summit on how to tackle the causes of knife crime is being hosted by a centre for children and young people.

Friday's event at the Springs Family Centre in Northampton will also look at what voluntary sector organisations are doing to stop young people carrying knives.

"We delight in getting people into work or further education who then move on with their lives into adulthood away from the gangs, away from having to roam around the streets," said Clive Ireson, the centre's development manager.

The summit comes just weeks after an anti-knife crime campaign was launched by the Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership.

Mr Ireson said intervention by voluntary groups could make a difference and young people should be given positive options, including music and sport.

"You start by just being there," he said.

Youth mentor Quinton Green says part of his work is talking about patterns of behaviour and the dangers of carrying a knife

Professional youth mentor Quinton Green said he felt there was a shift happening across Northamptonshire and agencies and organisations were taking "leaps and bounds" in their efforts to highlight the dangers.

Mr Green said all families affected by knife crime shared one sentiment.

"They don't want anybody to experience or go through what they are going through.

"It's a life sentence for them, torn apart by tragedy and united in grief."

He said his work with young people involved talking about patterns of behaviour, self-regulation, conflict resolution and the dangers of carrying a knife.

"It does come from fear, it does come from insecurities... young people today have so many influences and so much imagery across social media.

"You can have a distorted sense of a world view so what we do is unpack that."