Prevent Pillar
Early intervention and diversion activity that tackles the causes of knife crime before harm occurs.
Articles
The Youth Justice Board's 2025 Evidence and Insights Pack provides guidance on effective approaches to reduce knife crime among young people.
Evidence base
The Government is seeking views on proposals to introduce a licensing system for sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles. This aims to strengthen knife legislation, improve enforcement, and reduce knife crime.
Legislation
As part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission to halve knife crime in a decade, the Bill strengthens the law on the online sale of knives and ensures that the police and the courts have the necessary powers to get offensive weapons off the streets.
Legislation
Guidance
Offences and Powers - Online
Legal framework for online knife sales, including delivery requirements introduced by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 and platform responsibilities.
Legislation
Offences and Powers - Retail
Legal framework governing knife sales by retailers, including age verification requirements, defences, and Trading Standards enforcement powers.
Legislation
Resources
YJB Knife Crime Evidence and Insights Pack 2025
A comprehensive evidence pack from the Youth Justice Board examining knife crime statistics, risk factors, and the effectiveness of different intervention strategies. The pack provides data-driven recommendations for practitioners, highlighting that pre-court diversion and early intervention are more effective than prosecution and mandatory sentencing, and that some high-profile awareness programmes may actually be counterproductive.
External Links
Evidence base
College of Policing Knife Crime Evidence Briefing
Comprehensive evidence briefing from the College of Policing summarising research on factors associated with knife crime and strategies to tackle it. Provides an overview of risk factors, motivations for weapon carrying, and evidence-based interventions.
Crime and Policing Bill - knife crime and crossbows factsheet
External Links
Legislation