Extra Funding to tackle knife crime in Coventry

Knife crime has become a huge problem in Coventry. The West Midlands police are introducing new schemes and funding to help tackle knife crime in Coventry.

Organisations such as Positive Youth Foundation, Coventry boys and girls club and Coventry Caribbean Association are the top organisations who are able to benefit from the funding; in order for them to continue the work they do with young people in the community.  As Coventry are the city of culture, the money can help fund art projects which could allow young people who were involved in gangs to use the arts as a means of expression.

Abu who works for PYF stated “we are looking forward to receive the funding that can help us tackle knife crime in Coventry”. Positive youth Foundation are the biggest youth group in Coventry and have worked with a number of young people. Along with running projects to tackle knife crime and leading the knife crime campaign. 

A spokesman from West midlands Police said that the funding to tackle knife crime has funded a new scheme called the ‘precious Lives Knife Crime Awareness Workshop’s across the West Midlands.

‘We fund the delivery of Precious Lives Knife Crime Awareness workshops in schools over 250 workshops are held across schools in the West Midlands on an annual basis. These sessions have now reached more than 200,000 students.’

‘An end to knife crime.’

The west Midlands police have set up 12 weapon surrender bins. These bins offer people a place to dispose weapons safely in local communities.  Commissioner David Jamieson explained:  "The late PCC Bob Jones listened when our communities said they wanted an end to knife crime and that they wanted to work with us to make that happen.  I fully support this initiative and would like to thank our partners in the community and other organisations who worked together to bring this about.  Since the scheme over 450 knifes and two fire arms have been collected. 

The West Midlands Police are still encouraging organisations to apply for funding and generated ideas to help tackle knife crime.