Knife Prevention

This program is designed specifically for young people that carry weapons out of fear, we have a structured training programme in place that teaches young people about the harsh realities of knife crime. The Safety Box takes it to a very real level of physical conflict and shows the young people how to effectively defend themselves against knives so that they do not feel the need to pick weapons up for a means of protection.

How big is the problem?

How do you stay safe on the streets of the UK these days? The number of people serving prison sentences for carrying knives and other offensive weapons has increased by 44% over the last year. Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show the length of custodial sentences for possession of a knife also increased. However, despite a call from the Prime Minister last year for tougher sentences for those carrying knives, the majority of people convicted of possession offences still evaded prison. The statistics show 70% of people convicted of a possession offence received a non-custodial community sentence, a suspended sentence or a caution. Only 20% of convictions resulted in immediate custody. The Safety Box is driven to make a difference and help to stop this self-perpetuating, dangerous trend that has horrific consequences.

So why do most people carry them?

Here are some of the reasons given for their use:-

• Fear and / or self-protection / self-defence.
• Harass, intimidate or even for ‘kicks’
• Peer pressure.
• To command ‘Respect’ and status
• To steal, by threats to harm (often to fund a drug habit).

The main reason for many teenagers carrying knives is for the need to feel safe or for self defence. All of the reasons stated above are of course not allowed, as the law clearly states that it is illegal to carry a knife, knife blade, razor or any article which is sharply pointed.

At The Safety Box we deliver extended intervention and prevention programs (some of which last up to 3 months). Our key aim is to change the mindset of the young people by getting them to think about their lives and others in more detail.

In this program we focus on a target group, this being, young people that carry weapons as a means of protection or those at risk of carrying.

The knife programs are specifically designed to hit them at an emotional level, we use a combination of classroom based and physical activity. Some of the modules taught on the extended programs include talks from ex-convicts and their experience in prison, shock tactics (pictures and videos), conflict resolution, defence tactics, verbal diffusion, anger management, discussion forums, team building, communication exercises, inspirational talks and enterprise workshops. This all helps to build self worth, raise aspirations and effectively try to break the violent cycle by giving them options. The Safety Box also provide several resources for schools including lesson plans, discussion questions for Key stages 3 and 4.

Watch Safety Box founder Nathaniel Peat discussing knife crime on Channel 4 News, July 17th with Jon Snow below. (Nathaniel on 07:32 minutes)

Below is our 2 hour taster workshop. If you are interested in a taster session please contact us on : 0844 800 8320

The Safety Box  - 2.5 hour Knife Prevention and Defence Taster

• Avoidance • The Consequences • Prison from the inside • Life Story • The Effect on Family and Friends • The Value you place on your life • Something to live for • Aspire to Inspire before you expire • Spotting potential danger • Building Awareness Strategies • The effects of adrenaline and stress • Body Posture in attack prevention • Verbal Defence • Reactionary Distancing • Gross Motor-functional Movement Blocking (Utilising SAFE Simple, Adaptable, Fast and Effective) • Controlling the attackers knife hand • The knife lines of attack • Blocking against a knife • Taster Defending against a knife attack level 1. (Static) • Taster Defending against a knife attack level 2. (Slashes) • Taster Defending against knife attacks level 3. (Rear hand grip, forward hand grip Thrusts) • What to do if you get cut • Being the best you can be • End of Workshop

Licences

The Safety Box has several training programs available for teachers inset, youth workers and support staff that may want to run our programs or improve their own. We give you the full training support and also sell you the licence to use all of our material and workshops for the agreed time. Our licences are very affordable and we offer periodic brush up training courses to keep you up-to-date with new methodologies. Having us train you, will save you long term cost, we equip you with the necessary skills to deliver our material without us having to be there. Building our framework and system into your school or youth centre will give you the necessary tools required to handle negative behaviour trends, raise the aspirations of the youth and give you effective ways to tackle poor behaviour. Our training program is ideal for support staff, mentors and teachers that tackle poor behaviour. If you are interested in our training programs and buying our licences to run our program please contact: licences@thesafetybox.org