Police Mutual has pledged its support to the Guns and Knives Take Lives education and diversion initiative, developed by South Yorkshire Police to tackle youth-related gun and knife crime.

First introduced in South Yorkshire in 2005, the Guns and Knives Take Lives initiative includes a team of 12 firearms officers and staff who engage with more than 20,000 children every school year, on top of their core roles as authorised firearms officers. The team deliver a 90-minute hard-hitting and impactive presentation in every South Yorkshire secondary school, every academic year and since 2005 has helped reduce youth-related gun crime in South Yorkshire by 82 per cent.

Gary Howell, Development Officer at Police Mutual said: “My colleagues witnessed the Guns and Knives Take Lives team deliver a presentation at the 2011 conference for the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales and were really impressed by what they saw.

“Aside from the powerful message, the moral purpose and care behind the initiative is difficult to ignore. We are delighted to support such a worthy programme and hope that the £2,000 we have pledged will allow South Yorkshire Police to develop the initiative further.”

Inspector Rachel Usher, Head of the Guns and Knives Take Lives team added: “While the Force supports the Guns and Knives Take Lives initiative it is important that we seek further funding in order to ensure that it continues to develop. Thanks to the support of partners such as Police Mutual we continue to go from strength to strength.”

Now, forces up and down the UK are able to replicate the Guns and Knives Take Lives initiative in the form of a structured package put together by South Yorkshire Police. For the cost of £2,995 forces can purchase the package that includes the current Guns and Knives Take Lives presentation in full, a step-by-step delivery guide, learning and education materials and selected media.

For more information visit www.gunsandknivestakelives.com or www.facebook.com/gaktl.