Knife crime is at a record high, with over 200 lives lost each year, equating to nearly four deaths every week, according to the documentary.    This got me thinking about the role football can play in this conversation and a campaign I’d love to deliver called “More Goals, Less Knives.”

The latest data paints a stark picture. Over 49,000 knife-related offences were recorded in England and Wales in 2023, marking a significant rise from previous years. The worst-affected regions include:

• London – the highest number of knife crimes per capita
• West Midlands – a rising hotspot, especially in Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton
• Greater Manchester – another urban hub where stabbings have surged
• Merseyside – home to worrying levels of gang-related knife violence

But while politicians and media outlets scramble for explanations, some have chosen a divisive and simplistic narrative. Right-wing commentators claim knife crime is a “black problem,” citing racial disparities in arrest figures. According to the documentary, 69% of knife-related incidents involve white assailants.  I doubt this is a statistic several commentators and media organisations will promote.

This narrative fails to acknowledge the key social factors: deprivation, lack of youth opportunities, and community tensions are the real drivers of knife crime, not race.  Knife crime is about poverty, gang culture, and lack of opportunities. Young people carrying knives often do so out of fear, a misguided sense of protection, or peer pressure. If the media wants solutions, it should invest in community engagement, role models, and youth services, rather than racial blame.

Young people won’t listen to politicians but will listen to their footballing heroes. Take the West Midlands, a national hotbed for knife-related offences and a rich and diverse collective of community clubs like Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Coventry City, West Brom, and Wolves.   Could these clubs and the players representing them play a pivotal role in tackling knife crime by working alongside police forces and educational providers to break down rivalries and encourage real conversations about racial discrimination in sports?

Imagine a “More Goals, Less Knives” campaign, where athletes with integrity, police forces and educational providers from rival clubs come together to visit schools, host open talks, and use their platforms to speak on the dangers of carrying knives.  This is about the positive reinforcement of a life free of knife violence, where educational providers help young people set new goals for their lives through the cultural phenomenon of football. Players who grew up in these communities understand the pressures young people face and their words carry far more weight than a leaflet ever will.  What could this look like?

1. Football-led workshops – Players from ‘rival’ teams such as Aston Villa and Birmingham City and community police officers speak in schools about life choices, gang avoidance, and resilience.
2. Mentorship programmes – Clubs guiding young people at risk of gang involvement through club foundations providing life skills and educational guidance
3. Social media engagement – Footballers use their platform to promote anti-knife violence messages.  The language here is critical and is where partners like The Ben Kinsella Trust would play a vital role

As Idris highlighted, a PR exercise will only do so much to reduce knife violence. Government investment is required to make meaningful change. For example, it costs £120,000 a year to care for one young offender in a young offender institute. That seems like a lot of money that could be best invested in other ways to tackle the issue at source.  Scotland drastically reduced knife crime by investing in community-led violence prevention strategies, not just policing.

Football has the power to unite rival fans, inspire the next generation, and turn stadiums into platforms for real change. If we can channel that passion off the pitch, we can help young people see that the real goal in life is not survival but success.