Knife Bin design competition: Inspire others to live knife free

Essex Police, the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and the Ben Kinsella Trust are teaming up to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying a knife by launching a new competition for Essex secondary school aged children.

There are 15 knife disposal bins across Southend, Essex and Thurrock and they need a
revamp. The bins are very effective at collecting thousands of knives each year, removing
them from our streets, homes and communities We are inviting young people to design a positive anti-knife poster with three winning designs, one from each authority, chosen to replace the existing knife bin livery and be the new design of the Essex knife bins.

Research shows that carrying a knife doesn’t offer protection, in fact it increases the likelihood that an individual might be stabbed.  Every time someone leaves a knife in a knife bin, they are making a positive decision to live knife free, keeping themselves and those around them safe.

This is why Essex Police, the VVU and the PFCC are partnering with the Ben Kinsella Trust. The Ben Kinsella Trust was founded following the tragic death of Ben, who was just 16 years old when he was stabbed to death in an unprovoked act of senseless violence on 29th June 2008.

Brooke Kinsella, sister to Ben and founder of the Ben Kinsella Trust said:

“I am so pleased to be one of the judges for this competition. We lost Ben to a horrific knife attack 14 years ago, he loved to draw, and we treasure his artwork. This competition gives young people a
chance to use their art to inspire those who carry knives not to do so.

“The success of knife bins is often measure in the volume of knives recovered. But this often misses their real success. Knife bins allow people the opportunity to turn their lives around by safely disposing of their knives and make a real positive change to their lives.”

As one of the leading anti-knife charities in the UK, the Ben Kinsella Trust campaigns for
action and justice for those affected by knife crime and educates young people so that they
can make positive choices to stay safe.

The knife bin design competition is open to all secondary school pupils, and we hope schools will take the opportunity to make use of the resources at www.benkinsella.org.uk to run a lesson on knife crime, making the right choices and keeping safe.

Competition entries must be uploaded to the entry form at www.essexvvu.co.uk/competition by 5pm Friday 1 April.

The winning designs will be chosen by Brooke Kinsella from the Ben Kinsella Trust and their celebrity patron EastEnders Actress Louisa Lytton alongside Roger Hirst, PFCC for Essex and Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington.

The three winners will be notified by the end of April.

For full terms and conditions and further information visit www.essexvvu.co.uk/competition