A major drive to cut the number of knife crimes in Northern Ireland was launched today, aimed specifically at 12 and 13-year-olds.
It aims to stop young people thinking of a knife as a status symbol to be popped in a pocket before going out.
There have been nearly 1,000 knife crimes across Northern Ireland in the last nine months, and the annual rate of recorded knife crimes has been running at close to or above 1,000 a year since 2003.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Office and Youth Justice Agency have teamed up to develop the Knives Ruin Lives campaign to inform secondary school pupils about the dangers of knife crime.
Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “Many of our young people think it is acceptable to carry a knife. For many of them, a knife is a status symbol, something that makes them more acceptable to their peers.
“We need the support of teachers, parents and everyone within the local communities to stop the issue of knife crime.
“Knives ruin lives, never carry a knife.”
PA