Young Nottinghamshire people taking action on knife crime

Young community activists in Nottinghamshire have opened up about the innovative work they are undertaking to help raise awareness of knife crime and stop and search among their peers in a series of new videos.
The Youth Commission's videos focused on the dangers and consequences of knife crime and exploitationThe Youth Commission's videos focused on the dangers and consequences of knife crime and exploitation
The Youth Commission's videos focused on the dangers and consequences of knife crime and exploitation

Members of Nottinghamshire's Youth Commission have spoken candidly about the workshops they have designed to find out young people's opinions on urgent priorities including knife crime, stop and search and exploitation and abuse.

The videos coincide with the launch of the organisation's 2020 Annual Report which reveals the views and opinions of more than 2,000 young people across Nottinghamshire.

Kelese Hyacinth, 29, who features in one of the videos, said: "I wanted to be part of an organisation that allows young people to voice their opinions on issues that are happening in their community, especially young people from the BAME community as I believe it's really important we get more of these young people involved in work and projects like this.”

Paddy Tipping, police and crime commissioner for Nottinghamshire, commented: "In the face of a global health crisis, the team has continually adapted the way it works to host online workshops and virtual sessions to maintain these important conversations and I cannot thank them enough.

"The 2020 report gives us an insight into how we need to improve to reach more young people.

"The team has exciting ideas for the future and I think we could really learn something from their approach to problems and solutions."

Gabrielle Jones, project manager, added: "The young people we work with have risen to the challenge of engaging with young people through virtual workshops.

"I am always so impressed with the reach the commission has with young people and their dedication of making a change no matter what comes their way."

The commission has now set out a series of recommendations including the need for more social media campaigns on young people's rights when stopped and searched and more police representatives within schools delivering sessions on their rights.

It has also called for joint workshops with the police to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of knife crime.