Actor urges inclusion of knife crime education in curriculum following tragic stabbings.
Renowned actor Ray Winstone has thrown his support behind a campaign calling for mandatory lessons on knife crime in schools. The initiative was launched by two fathers who tragically lost their sons to fatal stabbings, pushing for the government to take further action to tackle the epidemic.
According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, over 50,000 incidents of knife crime were recorded in 2023-2024, marking a 4% rise compared to the previous year. With knife crime devastating communities and claiming lives, Winstone believes that education plays a crucial role in prevention.
During a screening of K(nox): The Rob Knox Story in central London last week, Winstone suggested that documentaries on knife crime should be part of school lessons. He referenced Colin Knox, father of Rob Knox—a young actor from Hawkinge, Kent, who appeared in Harry Potter before being fatally stabbed at age 18 in 2008. The screening brought attention to the impact knife crime has on families and communities.
Winstone commented, “It wouldn’t hurt to show this film and films like it in schools. If it stops one kid from doing it, it’s kind of done its job.”
Winstone, who acted alongside Rob Knox in the 2004 film King Arthur, is a patron of The Rob Knox Foundation. The foundation was established to raise awareness and prevent knife crime following Knox’s murder.
Colin Knox recently joined forces with Martin Cosser, whose 17-year-old son, Charlie, was also fatally stabbed at a party in West Sussex in 2023. Together, they are urging the Prime Minister to integrate knife crime lessons into the national curriculum as a matter of urgency.
Winstone, supporting their call, added that those caught carrying knives should be required to meet victims’ families, stating: “Not just for one or two weeks, but maybe for a year when they meet two or three families—go and talk to these people.” He emphasised the importance of preventative measures: “I’m talking about preventing the crime before it happens.”
While the Department for Education acknowledges the need for more action to combat knife crime, it currently leaves schools with the discretion to address the issue within their curriculum. A spokesperson said, “This government has committed to halving knife crime over the next decade. It’s vitally important that young people are aware of the dangers of knife crime.”
The DfE is investing more than £50m in specialist support for both mainstream and alternative provision schools, particularly in areas where children are most affected by serious violence.
The campaign led by Knox and Cosser will continue as they plan to visit Whitehall in October to discuss their proposal with government officials.
Recently, new legislation has been enforced across England and Wales, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, possession, and importation of so-called “zombie knives.” This measure, along with the government’s manifesto commitment to address knife crime, aims to reduce the growing threat within the next decade.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking at the Labour Party conference in September, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to halving knife crime by 2034, emphasising the urgency to address this national crisis.
As the country confronts rising knife-related violence, Ray Winstone’s backing of the call for educational reforms underlines the importance of addressing the issue early on and involving young people in discussions around the consequences of knife crime.