19–25 May 2025
Knife crime is not an inevitable part of society. That’s the message powering this year’s Knife Crime Awareness Week, running from 19th to 25th May 2025. The national campaign, led by The Ben Kinsella Trust and supported by organisations across the UK, is calling for empowerment.
Through sport, mentorship, and consistent presence in the lives of young Londoners, TackleLondon is quietly but powerfully rewriting the fear and uncertainty that feeds knife crime, particularly amongst young people.
Knife Crime in London: A City at a Crossroads
London has long been at the epicentre of the national conversation around knife crime. According to recent Metropolitan Police data, over 11,000 knife crime offences were recorded in the capital last year. Youth violence continues to affect communities from Croydon to Camden, Redbridge to Lambeth – with young people often both the victims and the perpetrators.
But behind the headlines is another, quieter reality – a growing network of individuals and groups working every day to turn things around. And that’s where TackleLondon steps in.
TackleLondon: Creating Change Through Rugby
TackleLondon uses rugby as a gateway to build trust, self-confidence, and resilience among young people impacted by adverse childhood experiences. Working in schools, community hubs, and rugby clubs across the capital, the initiative engages boys and girls aged 11–18 in high-quality sport sessions combined with mentorship and positive guidance.
For many of these young people, TackleLondon offers something that’s often missing in their lives: a safe space, consistent adult role models, and a team they can belong to.
Empowerment: The Theme of 2025
This year’s Knife Crime Awareness Week theme, Empowerment, couldn’t be more aligned with TackleLondon’s mission.
From mentoring sessions and skills-building workshops to rugby tournaments that build respect and discipline, the initiative is proof that violence is not inevitable – support, structure, and self-worth can change lives.
Across the city, similar efforts are gaining ground. Youth workers, coaches, and community advocates are filling the gaps where systems fall short. But scaling this impact requires more than passion – it demands recognition, collaboration, and investment.
Changing the Narrative
This week, campaign leaders like Patrick Green, CEO of The Ben Kinsella Trust, are calling on everyone – from policy-makers to tech giants – to step up.
“Social media has glamorised knife crime, giving young people illegal access to weapons and distorting their view of violence,” Green says. “But with tougher measures coming in, and growing grassroots efforts, we now have an opportunity to shift the culture.”
New legislation announced in April 2025 will place stricter accountability on tech companies for hosting knife-related content, reinforcing the government’s message: our children deserve protection – online and offline.
Join the Movement
TackleLondon and Knife Crime Awareness Week are united in a single vision: a safer, stronger future for our young people.
This week is more than a campaign – it’s a call to action. Everyone has a role to play, whether that’s:
- Volunteering at a local youth club,
- Attending community safety briefings,
- Supporting initiatives like TackleLondon,
- Or simply starting a conversation with a young person in your life.
“Knife crime is not inevitable. Change is happening. Let’s be part of it.” – Knife Crime Awareness Week 2025
📍 Follow the Movement
Instagram: @knifecrimeawarenessweek
X @knifecrimeaw
Facebook: Knife Crime Awareness Week
LinkedIn: Knife Crime Awareness Week
Post under the hashtag #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek and #KCAW25.
Let’s tackle knife crime the way we tackle the game – together, head-on, and with courage.