At last night’s meeting of full Council (15 July 2026), a Notice of Motion on preventing knife related harm was agreed by members.
The notice was proposed by Councillor Chantelle Lunt and seconded by Councillor Ria Rembadi with Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, and Cllr Kai Taylor, the Leader of the Opposition, speaking in support of it.
The agreed motion demonstrates Knowsley Council’s commitment to tackling serious violence and reducing knife-related harm through a range of evidence-based prevention measures.
Members recognised the devastating impact knife crime continues to have on families and communities across Merseyside and backed a series of practical actions designed to promote safer homes, public spaces and communities throughout the borough.
These include:
- A commitment to a review of procurement policies and to prioritise rounded-end kitchen knives where appropriate across all council services and commissioned settings, embedding prevention into council practice and creating meaningful system change.
- Working with partners across the Borough to implement a safer knife replacement scheme where risk has been identified.
- Strengthening public education and community awareness around age-appropriate prevention, safeguarding and trusted-adult conversations in Knowsley’s schools, community networks, and public health channels.
- Urging Knowsley residents to have an open conversation with each other to educate and improve each other’s knowledge around knife harm.
- Offering knife replacement schemes where funding allows.
- Supporting Knowsley’s elected members in championing this campaign within their own wards and communities.
- Supporting National Campaigns such as the Let’s Be Blunt campaign, to end knife harm through evidence-led prevention initiatives and safer design approaches.
Cllr Chantelle Lunt, said: “I’m pleased to move this motion on preventing knife related harm. There has been progress in reducing knife related harm and serious violence across Merseyside…But progress does not mean the job is done…When we talk about knife harm our minds often go to the weapons we have banned or restricted…What we are less familiar with is kitchen knives account for the largest share…nearly half of all knife homicides in England and Wales are with a pointed edged kitchen knife…It’s a risk hiding in plain sight.
“Round-tip knives offer the same every day kitchen utility but they have little to no value as a weapon.”
You can watch Cllr Lunt’s speech in full here.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “I am pleased to support this motion, and I would like to begin by thanking Councillor Lunt, Councillor Rembadi and our Green Group colleagues for bringing it before Council today.
“What I particularly welcome about this motion is that it focuses on prevention. We know that creating safer communities is not only about enforcement; it is also about education, safeguarding, early intervention and giving people the knowledge and support they need to make positive choices.”
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “Knife related harm destroys lives. It leaves victims with life-changing injuries, families dealing with unimaginable loss, and communities living with fear. While the vast majority of our residents make positive choices and contribute enormously to our Borough, we have a duty to do everything we can to prevent violence and keep our communities safe.
This motion reflects the approach that Knowsley Council has long championed: partnership working. Reducing violence seeks to ensure the Council, Merseyside Police, schools, youth services, health partners, voluntary organisations, parents and residents all work together to deliver real change. No single organisation can solve this issue alone, but together we can continue to make a difference.”