Salvation Army and police tackle knife crime and addiction

Salvation Army staff took part in an innovative community initiative earlier in the summer combining sport with safety education – a football tournament designed to engage students while raising awareness about the dangers of knife crime and addiction.

The Salvation Army and Essex Police worked alongside other organisations including The Children’s Society and Crimestoppers who attended the Great Notley Discovery Centre for two separate tournaments - one for boys and one for girls. The event included friendly competition and conversations about choices, consequences and community.

Yassir Mohammed is The Salvation Army’s Addiction Development Officer for London and The South East. His role focuses on harm reduction providing training, guidance and resources for the church and charity’s frontline staff, raising awareness around drug and alcohol-related harms and ensuring services are equipped to respond in a person-centred way. He was joined by Sophia Suarez, family worker at The Salvation Army in Braintree, who works with Essex Police throughout the year.

When they were not playing, the Year 8 students took part in interactive workshops and quizzes focused on knife crime and drug addiction with Yassir. He said he hoped to educate the students in a way that was engaging, meaningful and memorable to encourage open conversations.

Yassir said: “I’m very passionate about warning young people of the dangers of knife crime and addiction so when I was asked to take part, I said yes. I have experience of growing up in an impoverished community where I have survived gang culture and this gave me first-hand insight into how easily young people can be exploited and drawn in. I saw how this often leads to a cycle that includes violence, drug use and drug dealing and how quickly it can escalate. 

“County line gangs often deliberately target vulnerable young people and adults, They are groomed and exploited, often coerced into transporting and selling drugs across different areas.  This can lead not only to involvement in knife crime but also to increased risk of drug addiction.

“I wanted to empower students to make positive life choices and know where to turn to for support. We came with a display of some of the drugs and knives they could encounter thanks to Essex Police who provided the actual items making it really impactful exhibit and we challenged them to a quiz. They were asking good questions about legality and the risks of carrying a knife. I asked them if they knew someone who might carry a knife. It gave them the opportunity to say if they encounter knives in their communities, if they felt they needed to be roped into carrying a knife and if they felt safe.

“What I think they took away from it was a little more awareness around the risks of knives. The pupils were amazing.”

Yassir offered some advice to any young people needing help. He already works closely with The Salvation Army’s Children and Youth Services by upskilling staff through training courses and provides them with services and resources. 

He said: “Young people should first consider speaking to a trusted adult, such as a family member or teacher, who can offer immediate support and guidance. If the risk is more serious or urgent, contacting the police may be necessary.  There are also dedicated organisations that provide confidential support specifically for young people, including Childline, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and the National County Lines Coordination Centre, among others.

“We are always open to collaboration with local services and departments to further develop and expand these initiatives. Our goal is to keep the conversation going, reaching more young people and communities to help prevent harm.” 

The Salvation Army already works closely with Essex Police throughout the year helping to collect and distribute toys to families in need over the holiday season. The two organisations also work closely together to identify people experiencing homelessness who need support and to connect them with support services.

PC James Draper is Community Safety Engagement Officer for Braintree and Uttlesford and said the event was about breaking down barriers for young people to engage with the police and other professional support services.

He said: “All the children who took part were selected by their schools as children who would benefit from the event. They are Year 8 so they have been in secondary school for a year and a half. They have established themselves as young adults and we still have the opportunity to influence them. Braintree and Uttlesford is one of the safest places in Essex and we want it to stay that way. We use organisations like The Salvation Army and other support services to get people the support they need  so they don’t come into contact with people like me.  ’ve worked with The Salvation Army at Braintree for five years. If The Salvation Army come across people who need police assistance, they will give me a call and vice versa. They are just one of our brilliant caring community practitioners who want to support people. You need that positivity and energy especially when you are working with young people.” 

The Salvation Army in Braintree offers activities throughout the week including a Ladies Group and a Coffee Morning and Table Top Sale. For more information, go to www.salvationarmy.org.uk/braintree