A knife crime workshop was held on International Youth Day (August 12) as police bid to crack down on knife crime.

The event was fronted by local author and Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council Christina Gabbitas with Sgt Steve Dundon and was held at Blackburn Central Library and was open to all in our communities and was attended by charities, youth groups, police personnel, councillors and foster carers.

Christina said: “I wanted to show the audience the story resource that I deliver into primary and secondary schools to help educate on the topic of being groomed, county lines and the consequences of carrying knives.

“It’s very reassuring to know that I have the support of the police and the police and crime commissioners with my resource that was initially funded by Humberside to work and engage with children and young people on the topic of knife crime and knife crime.

"I have visited both primary and secondary schools with police officers and PCSO’s and the session is well received by teachers and children alike.”

Christina’s story was published in Feb 2020 and was a finalist on the People’s Book Prize. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic all events were postponed or cancelled.

An animation of the story that focuses on a group of friends who are groomed into county lines, suffering the consequences of carrying a knife, was also launched in February 2021.

Sgt Steve Dundon of Lancashire Police said: “It was great to be able to support Christina with this very useful resource with its messages about being groomed, drug running and knife crime.

"We are currently in talks to help deliver the message working in partnership with Christina in some of our schools in the Blackburn area.”