Pupils share knife crime fears with Princess Royal

The Princess Royal was shown an emergency bleed control kit by Ravaun Jones during her visit to Wellingborough

School children told the Princess Royal about their knife crime fears when she visited a group that works to combat stabbings.

Princess Anne heard from those affected by blade violence as she met volunteers from Off the Streets North Northamptonshire (NN) at the Hind Hotel in Wellingborough.

The charity's co-founder Ravaun Jones gave her a demonstration of a bleed control kit and a knife amnesty bin.

Princess Anne, dressed in a tweed jacket, said it was "nice" to see the kits "become more available".

Off the Streets NN has placed 203 bleed kits across Northamptonshire, with four of these having been used to save lives in emergency situations.

Princess Anne also listened to two school children read out pieces they had written about knife crime

Mr Jones said he started the charity because of the "tragic" death of 16-year-old Dylan Holliday, who was fatally stabbed in August 2021.

He added: "Previously before that, there was quite a lot of stabbings going on throughout our community.

"However, we just felt like if we could act as a community, and help the authorities as well, then maybe there can be a massive amount of change."

The 13 amnesty bins placed across the county by Off the Streets NN have resulted in 3,000 knives being discarded.

'Dangerous society'

Princess Anne unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit to the hotel - which is used by Off the Streets NN for meetings.

She also listened to two school children read out pieces they had written on knife crime.

In his piece, Taylan, 13, said: "I can't even go out to the park or any public place for that matter without my parents fearing that I may not make it back home.

"It's getting worse. And if we don't act upon it now, we will have a dangerous society."

Tiffany, 14, said in her piece: "We need people to be educated so they can be more thoughtful, sympathetic and smart."

She added that she wished children growing up in Wellingborough could "feel safe in their environment".