Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit and SMSC

Understanding Knife Crime: Research, Prevention, and the Development of a Weapon Incident Response Protocol

Drawing on research undertaken by SMSR in Greater Manchester and across the UK, this webinar will explore the factors influencing knife carrying and serious youth violence, including young people's experiences, perceptions of safety, peer influence, and barriers to reporting.

It will share key findings and learning from research undertaken in partnership with the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit since 2020, including work exploring knife crime, perceptions of safety in education and the Another Chance programme.

The webinar will also introduce and launch Greater Manchester's new online Weapon Incident Response Protocol, demonstrating how research evidence and stakeholder consultation have informed the development of a practical, safeguarding-led resource to support schools and partner agencies in responding safely, proportionately and consistently to weapon-related incidents.