West Midlands Police and Birmingham Children’s Hospital join forces to tackle knife crime
West Midlands Police (WMP) and our Children’s Hospital (BCH) have joined forces in a bid to try to tackle the rising and potentially tragic issue of knife crime.
The partnership is sending a powerful message to teenagers and young people about the potential consequences through the personal experiences of our hospital’s doctors and WMP‘s first responders, who are too often responsible for trying to save young lives following a knife crime incident.
This short video is part of a series that hears hard-hitting warning messages and practical advice from firearms officers, a consultant at our hospital and one of WMP’s neighbourhood officers.
The video forms part of a wider campaign that aims to educate and inform teenagers of the irreversible and dangerous realities, with the objective being to provide them with the harsh truth in the hope they will choose not to carry a knife. It will be shown in schools, targeting 11–16-year-olds, and broadcast across WMP and BCH social media channels.
Dr Satish Rao, Chief Medical Officer for our Trust, said: "Unfortunately, we see first-hand the devastating impact knife injuries have on young people and their families.
“We're very proud to be part of this project, which aims to educate young people across the West Midlands about the potentially tragic consequences of carrying a knife and ultimately tackle the issue of knife crime and violence."
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill, who leads on serious youth violence for West Midlands Police, said: “Knife crime and violence affect us all, and sadly, we’re seeing far too many young lives lost or changed forever because of it. Our firearms officers are often the first on the scene at these incidents, witnessing the devastating impact up close—young people with life-threatening injuries, families in shock, and communities left broken.
“This partnership is so important. Our colleagues at BCH work tirelessly to save lives, but they shouldn’t have to. We need to understand why young people are carrying knives, and that starts with listening to them. Education is key too—this video sends a powerful warning message to anyone thinking of carrying a knife. Imagine if it was your friend, your brother, your child needing life-saving treatment? That’s the reality we’re facing.”