Essex knife campaigner plea for action after offences in schools

Data released by Essex Police under the Data Protection Act revealed 247 knife-related offences at schools in Essex between 2018 and 2023. 

Of these 120 incidents involved child victims. 

The knife-related offences were linked to wider crimes including “violence against the person”, two sexual offences, public order and “crimes against society”.

The worrying toll of incidents underlines the challenge faced by schools, many of which have imposed a “zero-tolerance” policy to ensure all pupils and staff feel safe as they learn. 

Campaigner Julie Taylor, whose grandson Liam Taylor was 19 when he was stabbed to death outside a pub in Writtle in 2020, believes engaging with children at an early age to underline the perils of carrying a knife is now essential. 

As a campaigner, Julie visits secondary schools as well directly speaking to convicted prisoners adding that she “dreads the day” she finally meets a prisoner who is not remorseful.

She believes it is critical to talk to younger children because she fears engaging with 14 or 15 year olds “when they are too far gone” means they may not listen. 

Mrs Taylor said: “You need to talk to them when they are seven or eight, when their big brother or sibling is carrying.

“So, they don’t think its natural.”

Mrs Taylor has taken a lead in Essex to hand out lifesaving “bleed kits” which have all the materials needed to stem life-threatening bleeding following an injury following the death of Liam.                  

Missed - Campaigner Julie Taylor with a photograph of her grandson Liam Taylor who died aged 19 after he was stabbed (Image: Submitted)                                                                               

However, Mrs Taylor revealed that some secondary schools will accept her bleed kits but will refuse talks from her.

She said: “Schools, they don’t want the stigma, but every school has got a kid who has a weapon.

“They taught stranger danger and how to swim and now this is the new way of life unfortunately.”

Data from an FOI to Essex Police has revealed there were 162 offences involving a point or blade on school premises from 2019/20 to 2022/23. 

Of these 25 were in Basildon - the highest in all of Essex - followed by 23 in Colchester and 21 in Southend. 

Castle Point and Rochford had ten incidents respectively and Tendring had eight. 

Steve Townshend, National Education Union (NEU) welfare officer in Essex, said: “It is disturbing to see that the figures for knife crimes in schools appear to have increased over the last eight years.”

Mr Townshend added: “Most schools have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to having a bladed weapon on the premises and this is needed to safeguard both the students and the teachers.

“Both the unions and schools want to see knife crime eradicated from our communities and will work together to achieve this.

“Many schools give good quality lessons on knife crime but without adequate funding of schools by the government targeted support and intervention by trained counsellors is less likely.”

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “We work closely with all Essex schools on safeguarding matters, including knife crime, which we take very seriously.

“Our membership of the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit supports schools to handle knife crime incidents, as well as provide training and advice.  

“We also support schools through our online safeguarding forums.”