Merseyside Police are the latest Force to take advantage of South Yorkshire Police’s ‘Guns and Knives Take Lives’ product which is now available for all Forces.

The issues surrounding gun and knife crime, especially where young people are involved, continue to receive national media attention. South Yorkshire Police is committed to reducing the number of youth-related incidents in the region involving guns and knives, and, through a combination of prevention, intervention and education has achieved considerable success through their acclaimed ‘Guns and Knives Take Lives’ initiative. Success that Merseyside Police and others are hoping to emulate.

The success of the initiative, which has clear links to the PSHE curriculum and the Governments’ Every Child Matters agenda, has earned the team local and national awards, including the Cutlers Company Award and the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals Certificate of Commendation. The work has also generated much interest among other forces such as West Midlands and Nottinghamshire Police and 2010 saw South Yorkshire Police deliver six presentations in four Nottinghamshire schools.

The Guns and Knives Take Lives package is available for £2,995 +VAT and includes all the slides used in the impactive presentation, appropriate media, booking matrix and professionally produced artwork. In addition, supporting literature provides guidance on strategy, method, implementation, equipment, media and a step-by-step presentation delivery guide.

The pack has everything needed for police forces across the country to replicate the South Yorkshire model, already identified as a model of excellence (Infer Trust 2009). In South Yorkshire, it has proven to help divert young people from weapon related offending providing a sustainable engagement strategy with partners, promoting the safety of young people in local communities and reducing crime.

Firearms officers from Merseyside Police receive there Guns and Knives Take Lives package from Authorised Firearms Officer PC Connell