Issue of knife crime to be examined on new course at Leicester College

Recognising and Safeguarding Against Knife Crime Award level 1 is aimed at workers in education, care workers and people in security or customer-facing roles

A recent report has showed that violent crime in Leicestershire soared to a record high last year and in response to the growing problem of knife crime, Leicester College has launched a new course for adult students.

Based at the City Skills Centre on Charles Street, Leicester, the new one-day ‘Recognising and Safeguarding Against Knife Crime Award level 1’ course is suitable for anyone wishing to improve their knowledge of the law regarding carrying a knife, the effects on people involved and how to deal with people carrying knives.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics in May 2019 showed that the number of serious crimes involving knives or other sharp objects was at its highest level since 2011. Last year, 824 serious offences in Leicestershire involved a knife or sharp object. These included five homicides, 11 attempted murders, and nine rapes and sexual assaults. There were also 430 assaults with injury or with intent to cause serious harm that involved knives or sharp objects, as well as 278 robberies and 91 threats to kill.

Successful students will gain a nationally recognised, Safeguarding Against Knife Crime Award level 1, which is valuable evidence to show employers that they understand how to manage this challenging issue in their workplace or elsewhere. It is particularly suitable for students who are returning to work after a period of unemployment who wish to improve their skills and knowledge about this issue, for example in security, education, care workers and people in security or customer-facing roles.

James Royley, Lecturer in Security at Leicester College said: “The original idea came from a campus visit from Leicestershire Police and we believe that we’re one of the first colleges in the Midlands to offer such a course. The new course complements our existing security courses and will help to raise awareness of this important issue that crosses over many workplace environments. Having studied Criminology at university and worked in the industry for 23 years, I’ve seen the rise in knife crime as a real issue from a theoretical and practical perspective.”

Paul Waldron is one of the first students on the course. Paul commented: “I was previously employed in retail security and am looking to get back into work in that sort of role. The knife crime course has really opened my eyes to the scale of the problem – there are so many incidences and it’s upsetting to see. The course is helping me to broaden my horizons and will help me to make a difference.”