Home Office launches new knife campaign

Monday, 3 November 2008 9:00 AM

The Home Office is launching a new billboard campaign today, aimed at encouraging young people to speak out against knife crime.

The interactive campaign will run throughout the next three months across England and Wales, including the ten areas involved in the Tackling Knives Action Programme.

Announcing the campaign today, Home secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I want young people to stand united with us in the fight to tackle knife crime and send a clear message that weapons won't be tolerated on our streets.

"Over 60,000 young people have visited the "It Doesn't Have to Happen" page on Bebo and the site has over 6,000 friends.

"The vast majority of young people are honest and law-abiding and it is crucial that we all spread the message more widely that carrying a knife is not acceptable. We can't do this alone - we need the help of local communities to make a stand."

As part of the campaign youngsters will be encouraged to show their support for reducing knife crime by adding their own anti-knife photo pledges to the Bebo website.

The new interactive billboards are the latest measure in the government's £3 million national marketing campaign, "It Doesn't Have to Happen", launched in May.

Tags:
• crime
,
• domestic policy
,
• policing and crime
,
• weapons