Firefighter aims to deter children from knives

Craig Tipton wants to educate children about knife crime

A firefighter is hosting an anti-knife crime event, with the aim of preventing children from carrying weapons.

The event will include speakers from schools, local authorities and people with first-hand experience of knife crime.

Watch Commander Craig Tipton, based at Tettenhall fire station in Wolverhampton, has organised similar campaigns in his home county of Staffordshire.

"It's for anyone and everyone, but I'd like more children down there, so they can get educated and know what's going on out there," he said.

Mr Tipton started campaigning after children approached him in the boxing gym to tell him about the issue, he said.

"Something has got to be done about it," he explained. "The police are understaffed.

"It's just getting worse out there, and kids are carrying weapons because they think other kids are carrying them."

He added: "Kids as young as 10 are carrying knives."

He said he wanted to extend the campaigning to Wolverhampton after a number of knife-related deaths in the last 12 months.

Mr Tipton will give a talk about bleed kits, devices for which he hopes to raise funds in the area.

Also attending will be representatives from a local funeral home, as well as anti-knife crime ambassadors.

The event will be held at WV Active in Aldersley on 6 July, between 14:00 and 16:00 BST.