A new educational centre in Sleaford aims to prevent young people getting involved in knife crime
It'll officially open next month
A new initiative that aims to prevent knife crime across Lincolnshire is gearing up for it's official opening next year.
The educational space in Sleaford will try to help young people think twice before picking up a weapon. It's based at the town's Police station.
Mel Standbrook is the education Sergeant at Lincolnshire Police - she tells us while there isn't an issue in the county at the moment - prevention is key:
"This immersive experience really talks to your senses. What you can hear, what you can see, what you can feel - that really tactile approach - and I think it's really going to make a difference.
"Children aren't born criminals, the reason they carry a knife - we need to target that, we need to capture that so we can make a change.
"It's really important for us to get the right messages, so we are not targeting the end point of someone being fatally injured with knife crime - we want to look at why people carry a knife in the first place."
Mel told us that although knife crime is currently low across Lincolnshire - the key is prevention.
'The Happening' initiative is an educational experience that aims to move young people away from carrying a knife and being involved in serious violence.
It'll welcome it's first students in January.
It will look to dispel the myths and remove glamour that can be spoken about openly with young people's lives
The project has been built within the station’s old custody suite and has seen a number of rooms converted into state-of-the-art spaces centred around knife crime.
Each room is unique and uses real world props, videos, graffiti, posters, written content and more to help educate and inform young people.
Joanna is a violence against women and girls youth engagement co-ordinator:
"In the centre we hear stories of young people telling us about why they picked up that knife and I think as a room itself it's quite quiet you just hear the voice of that young person.
"And as you listen to it you just hear all of those reasons and I think it will surprise some people."
Katie Marshall, Senior Clinical Skills/Simulation Technician at the University of Lincoln, said:
“The university is proud to have supported Lincolnshire Police with this important initiative, providing support and equipment to help enhance the educational and immersive experience of the simulated hospital room.
“Students within our School of Health and Social Care are directly affected by the outcomes of knife crime, both during and after their training, and immersive initiatives like this help to highlight the dangers of knife crime to young people and foster a deeper understanding of its consequences. In doing so we hope to create a safer future for everyone.
“We are honoured to be recognised as a partner in this vital initiative and are committed to supporting Lincolnshire Police's broader education offer for the well-being of our community.”