A major six-month campaign has been launched across Northamptonshire to highlight the devastating consequences of knife crime and encourage people to report concerns anonymously.

The Knives Shatter Lives campaign, which began at the end of October, will run until March 2027, targeting communities in Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering and across the wider county.

Led by Crimestoppers, Fearless and Northamptonshire Police, the initiative aims to educate young people, parents and residents about the dangers of carrying knives and the potentially lifelong consequences of knife-related offending.

Funded through the Government's Knife Crime Concentration Fund, the campaign will focus on areas identified as knife crime hotspots.

placeholder image — The campaign poster by Crimestoppers

Activities will include educational sessions in schools, workshops for professionals working with young people and targeted social media campaigns.

Cinema advertising will also appear at venues including Northampton, Rushden Lakes and Corby, alongside advertising on Channel 4's streaming service and YouTube.

The campaign comes as Northamptonshire Police continues to identify knife crime as a priority, warning that carrying a weapon can lead to imprisonment or serious injury.

Northamptonshire also has a growing network of permanent knife surrender bins and publicly accessible bleed control kits installed by grassroots organisation Off the Streets.

The facilities allow residents to dispose of knives anonymously while providing potentially life-saving equipment following serious injuries.

Lydia Patsalides, Crimestoppers' East Midlands regional manager, said: "Every knife carried has the potential to change lives forever. Too often, people carry knives believing they will protect them, when the reality is that the weapon is far more likely to escalate violence and place the carrier at even greater risk of becoming a victim themselves.

"Across Northamptonshire we have seen first-hand the devastating impact knife crime has on young people, families, schools and entire communities. Behind every statistic is a life changed forever."

She said the campaign would help young people understand the consequences of carrying weapons while encouraging communities to report concerns before tragedies occurred.

Crimestoppers provides an independent service allowing people to share information about crime without revealing their identity.

Anyone with information about knife crime or concerns about someone carrying a weapon can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.