Police Visit Schools in Amber Valley To Combat Knife Crime

Police officers in Amber Valley are starting a series of school visits across the area which are focused on preventing and reducing knife crime in Derbyshire.

Amber Valley is the 10th most murderous area in the UK according to UK crime statistics.  This is how we compare to the other top ten murderous areas:

Murders per capita:

Officers will be showing students a video of the mum of a young man murdered by knife crime, who makes an emotional plea to young people not to carry a knife. You can view the video here:

 

 

Yvonne Upton’s 21-year-old son Connor was stabbed and killed in Burton-on-Trent in 2010. She specially filmed this segment for this education drive, to deter young people from carrying knives, at the cemetery where her son is buried.

The school visits are part of Project Zao, a Derbyshire Constabulary project which has been running for three years.

Inspector Dave Parker, who is in charge of the Amber Valley Local Policing Unit, said: “It is a great opportunity for our officers to talk to young people about the dangers of carrying and using knives. Even carrying a knife holds some potentially serious life-changing consequences and anything we can do to discourage this is important to us, as it can help prevent further violent consequences.”

If you are concerned or have any information about knife crime in your community please contact Derbyshire Constabulary using one of the following non-emergency contact methods.

Please name “Project Zao” in your communication.

• Facebook – send a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary
• Twitter –  direct message the contact centre on @DerPolContact
• Website –  complete the online contact form www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.
• Phone – call the police on 101.

Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org