Statistics show that knife crime in Wales rose slightly in 2023 compared to a year earlier, with 1,626 serious offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, accounting for 4% of all serious offences.
Although an increase since before 2019, the rate in Wales is well below the national average – there were 52 offences per 100,000, compared to 89 per 100,000 across England and Wales.
Supt Esyr Jones, from South Wales Police, said the Not the One campaign has contributed to knife crime among young people in the region “plummeting”, pointing to a drop in the number of young people being admitted to hospital for assault or knife-related injuries.
He said the idea for the campaign came after the force saw a number of issues with knife crime in 2019 and 2020, describing them as a “watershed moment”.
The aim is both to debunk the “myth” that everyone is carrying a knife – with one of the main reasons people give for carrying is thinking that others are – and work with trusted adults who can make an impact in young people’s lives.
Supt Jones said police officers would conduct speeches in schools on the issue of knife crime, but “the feedback was that the engagement didn’t really make a difference”.
“But people listened to teachers, youth leaders, school nurses, dinner ladies – these are the people who hold the power in these people’s lives. They’re not there for one session, they’re there all the time,” he said.
He admitted it was a “novel approach” to policing, but came as a result of “a lot of soul searching to understand what works”.
The initiative therefore provides material for these adults to intervene if they suspect a young person could be moving towards criminality and gangs.
“We’re empowering those adults who hold the power and relevance over young people to use that to save a life,” he said.
