A POLICE officer has drawn on his personal and professional experience to engage with young people in Redditch to educate children on the dangers and consequences of knife crime.
PC Safi Patel, who joined West Mercia Police last year via Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme, designed a game, ‘knives and ladders’ during the national anti-knife campaign Operation Sceptre which ran in May.
“The aim of the game is to get school children to think about the long-term effects and consequences of knife crime and how it can affect your whole life,” he said.
“The game encourages young people to value the little things in life that make us happy and consider the emotional, personal and legal consequences of knife crime.”
Based on the classic game ‘snakes and ladders’, as children move across the board they can progress by landing on squares such as ‘milestone moment, you have your first job’, but move back when they land on the knives.
The board also includes phrases such as ‘you are someone’s reason to smile, don’t forget that’ and ‘for carrying a knife in a public place or on school premises, the maximum penalty if convicted is four years in prison.’
PC Patel, who is stationed in the Redditch Safer Neighbourhoods Team, also created a free digital dice app for the game.
“I grew up in a neighbourhood with crime on my doorstep, so it’s not the first time I have experienced knife crime in a community,” he said.
Redditch Police Inspector Lee Page, who works alongside PC Patel, said: “Early intervention and prevention are key to tackling the root causes of why young people are drawn into carrying knives and we need innovative approaches as part of these efforts.
“It’s great to see PC Patel using some of his skills as part of the Police Now programme to make a positive difference to young people.”
