Knife Crime

2 Introduction We are writing in response to the Crime and Policing Bill: Knife Crime Factsheet published on the 25 th February 2025 . TRYJustice ( Transdisciplinary Research for Youth Justice) are a network of academics, experts by lived experience, and practitioners. We share the common goal of reducing the number of children who come into contact with the law, and improving life outcomes for those who do. Our academic members span disciplines including criminology, sociology, psychology, education, law, and health. We formed in 2021, in recognition of the fact that siloed working creates barriers to evidence-based policymaking in youth justice. Summary Addressing knife-related crime has been identified as a priority for the current government, and the Safer Streets Mission identifies a goal of halving knife crime. This Crime and Policing Bill introduces three key measures to be introduced in accordance with this target. Firstly, the power for police to seize, retain, and destroy knives held on private property. Secondly, an increase in the maximum penalty for offences including private possession, manufacture, sale, or supply of prohibited offensive weapons, and the sale of knives to those under the age of 18. Thirdly, the introduction of a new offence for the possession of a knife or offensive weapon in public or private, with intent to use it unlawfully against another person. Response As a network, we are motivated to see a reduction in the number of children who are harmed by knife crime, both as victims and as those drawn into offending. We support the Government’s commitment to addressing serious youth violence and welcome efforts to prevent the sale and distribution of dangerous weapons, particularly to children. We believe this Bill would benefit from further insights drawn from a transdisciplinary, child-centred perspective - one that draws on research and lived experience across criminology, psychology, education, health, and social care. In this context, we offer the following reflections on how the Bill might be strengthened to more effectively protect children and prevent violence in the long term. A summary of our key recommendations can be found at the end of this response. Framing of the problem Firstly, we urge caution in the framing of knife crime as a problem within public discourse and public response. The presentation of knife crime as an escalating and distinct threat risks generating fear, particularly among children and young people, which may in turn contribute to the very behaviours this Bill seeks to prevent. Robust evidence identifies that fear is a