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Knife crime is a growing problem!

The use of knives in violent offences is something which, unfortunately, continues to be on the rise. In 2012, it was reported that there were 29,513 selected violent crimes which involved a knife or sharp object – 7% of the total of selected violent incidents. However, there was also shown to be a decline of 9% on the previous year in terms of recorded knife offences (source: Knife Crime Statistics – Parliament November 2012.)

However, this year (2015) saw the first rise in knife-related crime in four years, with 26,370 recorded offences for 14/15 – showing an increase over 25,974 from the previous year (according to the Office for National Statistics.) This was contrary to a declining trend since 2010 (source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33547806).

Therefore, we have to sadly conclude that the risk of being a victim of an incident involving knife crime continues to rise – and this is more so if you happen to reside in a urban area.

In particular, the risk from knife crime has been particularly acute in front-line, customer-facing roles (such as the NHS) or where staff may have to deal with vulnerable young people, such as in schools. Indeed – and although still relatively rare – incidents of knife or edged weapon use against staff and other students have been widely reported in the press in the last few years, cases which have often led to life-changing or even fatal circumstances.

If you – or your staff – were threatened with or had to deal with an edged-weapon, would you know what to do?

Dealing with such an incident is stressful  and highly risky (think about how the Police will respond to such incidents when reported to them.) If you are an employer, then you have legally-enforceable duty of care to your staff, your service-users and others in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, and other related legislation. Furthermore, if your business acts in a public capacity in some form (such as a school or hospital), then you also have a positive obligation to preserve life under Article 2(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Can you therefore afford not to ensure that your staff are properly trained in accordance with appropriate legislation?

In accordance with Section 2(2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, as an employer you have to ensure that your staff have suitable and sufficient ‘information, instruction, training and supervision’ in relation to the risks they are likely to encounter in the workplace. If your risk assessments identify the likelihood of your staff encountering an edged weapon as being medium or even high, then they really need to be trained in how to deal with such an incident should it occur.

This is where we at N Davies Training can assist.

Our Edged Weapon Awareness Training package (developed by an expert with over 25 years plus experience) consists of the several learning points to help you and/or your staff understand the nature of the threat and how to counter or deal with it.

By completing this training, you’ll learn the following:

  • What defines an edged weapon and / or an offensive weapon;
  • What the risks posed by edged weapons are and how to understand them;
  • An awareness of edged or sharply pointed weapons when undertaking searches of members of the public;
  • To understand that they will not be expected to physically restrain any person who may be carrying and/or armed with edged or similar weapons.

Whether in a school, college, healthcare or security setting, this training will provide you and/or your staff with the necessary skills to be able to identify and respond appropriately to any incident involving edged weapons.

Can you afford not to guarantee the safety of your staff and service -users alike?

Contact us now for a free consultation: 07761 814815 or email as follows: mail@nicholas-davies.com

Prices start at £180.00 for up to 6 delegates – need training for more delegates? Contact us on mail@nicholas-davies.com or 07761 814815.