SOUTH YORKSHIRE STRENGTHENS ACTION ON KNIFE CRIME

Published 12 November 2026 at 4:30pm

A new three-year plan aimed at preventing knife crime, protecting young people and creating safer communities has been launched today by South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard.

The Preventing Knife Crime Approach 2026-2029 sets out how organisations across South Yorkshire will work together to reduce knife-related violence through prevention, early intervention and targeted enforcement.

Developed through the South Yorkshire Violence Prevention Partnership, the approach brings together South Yorkshire Police, local authorities, education providers, health services, youth justice partners, community organisations and people with lived experience behind a shared commitment to tackle the causes of knife crime as well as its consequences.

While knife crime remains a relatively small proportion of overall crime in South Yorkshire, its impact is devastating. Every incident leaves lasting consequences for victims, families, friends and communities, affecting feelings of safety, wellbeing and opportunity.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said:

“Every young person in South Yorkshire deserves the chance to grow up safe, happy and hopeful about their future. And every parent should be able to take for granted that their child will come home safely at the end of the day.

Knife crime is rare, but when it does happen it has a devastating impact, affecting families and changing lives and communities forever.

“If we’re serious about tackling knife crime, we need to prevent violence before it happens. We’ve got to listen to our young people, work with families and communities, and tackle the issues that can put young people at risk of becoming involved in violence.

“We’re bringing together policing, schools, health services, councils and our communities around a shared mission: to make South Yorkshire safer, fairer and healthier for everyone.

“We know knife crime is not simply inevitable. By working together, listening to our communities and investing in our people and places, we can prevent violence and change lives. Ultimately, we want to give every young person in South Yorkshire the support, opportunities and hope they need to build a good life and a better future.”

The new approach recognises that tackling knife crime requires more than enforcement alone. It adopts a public health approach, focusing on understanding and addressing the factors that increase the risk of violence, including adverse childhood experiences, exploitation, trauma, school exclusion, poor mental health and social inequality.

The three-year strategy is built around four key themes:

Prevention and early intervention

Working with schools, colleges, families and community organisations to help children and young people develop positive relationships, build resilience and access support before problems escalate.

Supporting those most at risk

Providing targeted interventions for children and young people who are vulnerable to involvement in violence, exploitation or serious offending.

Community leadership and partnership

Supporting communities to play a central role in violence prevention, strengthening local networks and ensuring programmes reflect local needs and experiences.

Evidence, insight and enforcement

Using data, intelligence and evaluation to understand what works, ensuring enforcement activity is targeted effectively while continuing to build an evidence base for prevention activity.

South Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Public Safety, Kilvinder Vigurs, said:

“When violence affects a community, it changes how people feel about where they live, work and raise their families. That's why tackling knife crime is one of our key priorities.

“Of course, enforcement has a vital role to play, and we will continue to work closely with South Yorkshire Police to target those carrying and using knives. But we also know that we cannot simply enforce our way out of this challenge.

“We need to invest in our young people, support families and work alongside communities to prevent violence before it happens. This new approach sets out how we will do that, bringing together the right partners to provide early support, create opportunities and help protect those most at risk.

“By combining prevention with robust enforcement, we can reduce harm, improve community safety and give more young people the chance to succeed.”

The Preventing Knife Crime Approach also commits partners to amplifying the voices of young people and those with lived experience, recognising that sustainable solutions must be informed by people and communities directly affected by violence.

The launch forms part of wider efforts across South Yorkshire to reduce serious violence through evidence-led prevention programmes, community investment, education initiatives and targeted support for vulnerable children and young people.

It comes ahead of Operation Sceptre, the national knife crime awareness week, which takes place from 16-21 November and will see partners across South Yorkshire undertake a programme of activity to raise awareness of knife crime, support communities and demonstrate how agencies are working together to prevent violence.

Throughout Operation Sceptre, partners will deliver a range of activity highlighting ongoing work to tackle knife crime, including awareness campaigns, community engagement, education initiatives and enforcement activity.

The campaign will also promote practical measures that residents can take to help reduce the risk of harm, including the region's rounded kitchen knife scheme and information on how to report concerns about knife crime or exploitation.