Clothing line sold in Sheffield criticised for 'glamourising' knife crime

Published 9th Oct 2019

South Yorkshire campaigners say shops must be more responsible and not glamourise knife crime to young people.

There's been controversy after a jumper with huge hunting knife on the front was displayed in a clothes shop in Sheffield city centre.

It appeared on a manakin wearing a face mask in Sa-kis on Division Street - the picture of the knife is accompanied by the words 'no brainer' above.

Knife crime campaigners are condeming it - Anthony Olaseinde runs Keep Sheffield Stainless:

"It looks cool. If I was younger and I saw that t-shirt with whats going on with all the knife crime it would be quite appealing. Knife crime gets glamourised enough already through music, through social media, that's why it's so strongly seen as a young person's thing.

"The question I'd ask whoever's shop it is, or whoever made it: has a member of their family been affected by knife crime? And I can probably guess and say no, they've not."

It comes after a rise in knife crime incidents in Sheffield - and across the country - over the last few years. And this Sunday a bus driver was stabbed in broad daylight in Sheffield city centre.

It's unclear whether the item is trying to promote carrying a knife or discourage it. Some argue the praying hands shown on the blade could suggest it's anti-knife.

Clothes line

Words on the back read: "CHOOSE YOUR PATH ON THE PLANET YOU SERVE TIME IS YOUR BOUNDARY CONSIDER YOUR WORTH."

But Anthony says, either way, it's inappropriate:

"Straight away you can see the big knife, and I thought it's negative. Regardless if it's pro or if it's against knife crime, you don't want to expose young people to knife crime. Then I looked at the t-shirt itself, I just think it didn't need to be there. It didn't need to be made.

"They could have easily put a red X over that, easily. If they are trying to do good and they're trying to deter young people from getting involved in knife crime you wouldn't have done it that way."

We've tried to contact the shop for a response but haven't heard back.