Busill Jones Primary Pupils Take a Stand as Knife Crime Ambassadors

A group of dedicated Year 6 students from Busill Jones Primary School in Bloxwich have taken a stand against knife crime, stepping into their roles as Knife Crime Prevent Ambassadors as part of a pioneering initiative led by West Midlands Police.

The project, which launched in October, aims to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives, the laws surrounding them, and the consequences of their misuse. Ten pupils were selected for the ambassador role after submitting applications explaining their passion for raising awareness on this critical issue.

PC Zena Hands, Early Help Officer at Walsall LPA, is leading the initiative in partnership with Michelle Tolley, family liaison officer at the school. Through workshop sessions, the ambassadors have explored the risks of knife crime in a way that is informative yet sensitive to their age group.

“The knife crime ambassadors have now been chosen, and they are all really excited about playing their part in educating their fellow pupils about such an important subject,” said PC Hands. “We need to change attitudes and discourage children from carrying knives for self-protection or other reasons, emphasising the dangers and the fact that it is also against the law. By empowering the children with knowledge, it helps to equip them to cope in challenging situations and to make sound decisions.”

Busill Jones Primary School is proud of its young ambassadors, who recently had the opportunity to share their learning experiences on a larger platform. The pupils, accompanied by their teachers and representatives from West Midlands Police, visited KIC Radio to record a powerful podcast detailing their journey as ambassadors. During their visit, they also engaged in live radio broadcasting, gaining first-hand experience in media and public speaking.

KIC Radio praised the students for their commitment to raising awareness, describing them as “the next generation of changemakers.”

During their visit to the KIC Studios in Shelfield, Mark Brindley, founder of The James Brindley Foundation shared information on blade disposal bins across Walsall and listened to the pupils express their reasons for wanting to be ambassadors.

During the podcast recording, the children spoke passionately about what they had learned. One pupil said, "I wanted to become an ambassador because I want to help stop knife crime before it starts. We have learned that carrying a knife doesn’t make you safer – it actually puts you in more danger." Another added, "We now know where to find knife disposal bins in Walsall and why it’s so important to get rid of them safely. We want to share this information with everyone."

Listen to Busill Jones Primary School - Knife Prevention podcast:

With a 6% reduction in knife crime in the West Midlands between 2023 and 2024, as reported by the Office of National Statistics, initiatives like this highlight the importance of early intervention and community-led efforts.

By giving young people a voice and empowering them with the knowledge to make a difference, Busill Jones Primary School and its Year 6 ambassadors are playing a crucial role in making their community a safer place.