Reducing Reoffending

The Knife Possession Prevention Programme has been designed to tackle knife carrying among young people who offend. It is currently available to 10-17 year olds who have been convicted of possession of a bladed article or offensive weapon (knife) only. Knife-enabled offences are not included. The programme will enable YOTs to address specifically the issues around knife carrying and by targeting the intervention, it is hoped that the young person will understand the impact of knife-carrying and change their behaviour thereby reducing the likelihood of reoffending.

The programme's framework was devised by experienced practitioners from YOTs and specialist providers. YOTs will retain the ability to deliver the scheme flexibly.

It is available as part of a community-based order. This includes:

The scheme has eight modules delivered over eight weeks in either group or individual sessions. The modules are:

• attitudes to knife carrying
• health
• laws surrounding knives and weapons
• managing conflict and anger
• peer education
• public space awareness
• social implications of knife possession
• victim interaction.

It will include detailed information on what happens when someone is stabbed and what the consequences are – for the young person and their families as well as for the victim, the victim’s family and the community.

YOTs will make reference to the Knife Possession Prevention Programme in pre-sentence reports where a young person has been convicted of a relevant offence. It is anticipated, especially once the pilot is completed and we can show a positive impact of the scheme, that sentencers will consider the availability of the scheme when determining the sentence. If the court is considering the use of a disposal for knife possession that can include the scheme, then they should make reference to the need for the young person to participate in the scheme as part of the sentence.

The Knife Possession Prevention Programme is being run in 12 pilot areas:

The pilots started in September 2008 and will finish in March 2009. We hope that the pilot will prove a success and that its evaluation will be used to develop a framework for implementation across England and Wales in 2009.

In February 2008, the Home Secretary announced that the Government would work with the YJB to ensure that young people convicted of knife-related offences would receive focused interventions appropriate to the offence. The announcement was part of the knife measures in the Government’s action plan for tackling violence [opens in new window].