Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness has rolled out new training designed to prevent knife crime.

The specialist knife crime training is being carried out across the North East to help teachers, nurses and other frontline staff steer young people away from violence.

The training aims to ensure young people at risk of gang violence and criminality are spotted early and helped to turn their lives around.

The region’s only dedicated Violence Reduction Unit, set up by the PCC to prevent violent crime, has so far worked with more than 250 frontline key workers to better prepare them for supporting the region’s most vulnerable young people.

Northumbria VRU sessions have so far been delivered in hospitals, schools and children’s homes amongst others, aiming to teach attendees the warning signs to look out for, the services available to support young people and the devastating impact carrying a knife can have.

Kim McGuinness praised the sessions, saying: “Taking this approach of preventing crime is so important, we absolutely cannot just arrest our way out of it. We need to better prepare staff to deal with vulnerable young people, and also give those same young people the knowledge to make positive life decisions.

“Some of the staff that have attended the training see these young people at their most vulnerable moment – whether that be in an A&E department, or a custody suite – moments where these professionals can have a real chance to connect with the young person.”

“No one should ever be carrying or using a knife, but unfortunately, there are incidents where we see this behaviour occur. Now those first responders will have the confidence and knowledge to help divert those involved in this lifestyle to the excellent services locally. We can break the cycle of violence.”