Knife crime campaigner welcomes new national centre as ‘positive step’
Family of Birmingham stabbing victim Daniel Baird say better coordination and education are key to saving lives
A Birmingham knife crime campaigner has welcomed the launch of a new national centre aimed at tackling violence across the UK, calling it a “positive step” in the fight against knife crime.
The National Knife Crime Coordination Centre is opening today, bringing together police forces and partners to better coordinate efforts, share intelligence and target areas most affected by knife crime.
Louise Mason, from the Daniel Baird Foundation, says the move makes “perfect sense” and could help bring together the many groups already working to reduce violence.
She is the cousin of Daniel Baird, who was fatally stabbed in Digbeth in 2017. His death led to the creation of the charity, which campaigns for greater awareness of life-saving first aid and access to bleed control kits.
Speaking about the new centre, Louise said: “It makes perfect sense because… you need to get people together nationally.”
She added that while many organisations are already working to tackle knife crime, a coordinated approach is crucial: “There’s so many others that can input… advice and ideas when it comes to knife crime.”
Louise also warned that despite some improvements, the issue remains serious, particularly among young people. She said: “Knife crime has reached incredible highs… it has dropped a little bit… but it’s still very high, especially within our youth.”
She believes education and prevention must go hand-in-hand with enforcement, including teaching first aid and improving access to bleed control kits in public places.
“That’s why the bleed control kits are important. That’s why education in schools is important,” she said.
The Daniel Baird Foundation has been campaigning since 2017 to install bleed control kits across the UK, often alongside defibrillators, to help members of the public respond in an emergency.
Louise said the charity’s work is about ensuring fewer families experience the same loss: “At least we can do something.”