While banning the sale of zombie knives is a step in the right direction, actor Idris Elba believes that addressing knife crime requires early intervention in schools. The 52-year-old has spent the past year producing a BBC documentary, Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, in which he explores the root causes and potential solutions to youth violence.
The Need for Preventative Measures
Elba argues that additional measures, such as banning ninja swords and modifying domestic knives to be less dangerous, should also be considered. “Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them,” he suggests, emphasizing the importance of innovative approaches to tackling knife-related violence. Statistics from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) reveal that 507 children were treated for knife-related injuries in English hospitals between April 2023 and April 2024. Elba, a father of three, acknowledges the constant fear parents face, stating, “As a parent, that’s always going through your mind.”
Stories from Young Offenders
The documentary follows young people affected by knife crime, including a 17-year-old offender at Feltham Young Offender Institution. The teenager, who began carrying a blade at 13 due to bullying and exposure to violence at home, describes how wielding a knife gave him a sense of power. “When I had a knife, I felt like I could do anything,” he tells Elba. “Like I was a god—nobody could touch me.” However, that false sense of security led him to commit grievous bodily harm, resulting in his incarceration.
Jayden, another teenager featured in the documentary, began carrying a knife at 12 after being attacked by a group in Coventry. He was later referred to the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (Cirv), a West Midlands Police program aimed at preventing youth involvement in knife crime. Through Cirv, Jayden joined a football academy and now aspires to be a coach. He acknowledges the dangers that persist, saying, “It is still quite normal where I’m from to see someone carrying a blade.”
Investing in Effective Solutions
Elba believes the solution lies in proactive intervention before children turn to violence. He points out that exclusion from school can push young people toward crime and emphasizes the importance of funding programs like Cirv. The Ministry of Justice reports that the highest rate of reoffending is among individuals aged 10-17. Programs like Cirv, which costs £1,500 per child annually, identify at-risk youth and connect them with education and career opportunities. However, the scheme’s funding is set to expire in six months.
“There needs to be a very radical look at where we spend our money,” Elba insists. “How do we spend our money, and what are the effective solutions versus the ones that we’re wasting a lot of money on that aren’t effective?” Diana Johnson, Minister for Policing, Fire, and Crime Prevention, supports the government’s ongoing efforts to ban dangerous weapons like ninja swords. She agrees that long-term strategies must focus on prevention to curb violent crime before it escalates.
