'Knives are tools, not weapons' - the Sheffield chef trying to rid the city of its knife crime problem
He's launching a new project to get kids off the streets
Chefs across Sheffield are coming together to get kids to stop using knives on the streets - and start using them in the kitchen.
Professional chef Karim Maoui's launching a new project to steer Sheffield teenagers away from knife crime and into opportunities in the hospitality industry.
He and other local chefs will be helping train disadvantaged young people in their kitchens to get them off the streets and doing something contructive with their time.
"Knives are tools. They were never ever invented as weapons," he said.
"I want to be able to give these kids a career, direction, life skills and get them away form the situations they're in.
"I grew up in Pitsmoor, I've seen various situations of various levels of crime. I chose to not get involved in that life. The life that being a chef has given me by using knives in the correct manner is amazing and that's what we want to impart on to these kids. There is another way - there is a way out of the situation you're in."
Last week there were two stabbings in the space of 48 hours on the streets of the city.
It comes as South Yorkshire Police are spending all this week cracking down on knife crime in Operation Sceptre.
The Kinfe Life Project is in its early stages but has already had interest from a number of independent businesses across the city, as well as training providers.
Karim says he's got first hand experience of the devastating impact of knife crime:
"Nineteen years ago a very good friend of mine was murdered. On the outside people appear strong but how they deal with it internally over the years is another matter. It never ever goes away. It stays with you.
"If you're working, you're not on the streets. If you're working you're earning money so you don't need to be doing the wrong things to try and earn money. We want to be able to give them a career that they can enjoy but show them long term there are so many possibilities. You can have your own business."