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WQ.159/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 7th APRIL 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 14th APRIL 2025
Question
"Will the Minister advise how many incidents, if any, have been reported over the last five years of young people carrying knives in school and state the number of incidents over the same period where knives have been used as offensive weapons, both in school and outside school?"
Answer
Please find below the data relating to reported incidents of knives:
To note:
- The number of incidents is a measure of iLogs – not all incidents subject of an iLog will be a crime. Separate data is provided below on recorded crimes both within and outside schools. Not all recorded crimes will be subject to a prosecution. One ilog/incident may have more than one crime linked to it.
- In responding to this question, "young people" was taken to mean under 18, the average age for the offenders/suspects in the crimes was 15.
- There is no clear pattern in incidents in schools and they have not increased over the last couple of years. All but one involved an actual knife, one was a plastic knife.
- There are no recorded crimes in schools, but there are crimes committed by young people – 3 each year in the last 3 years, down from 7 in 2020.
- In total, 17 crimes have been recorded committed by young people between 2020 and 2024 – examples include 11 relating to grave and criminal assaults, 1 to an affray, 1 to an attempted murder.
Type | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Number of incidents of possession of a knife - in a school | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Number of crimes where a knife has been used or threats made - in a school | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Number of crimes where a knife has been used or threats made – not in a school | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
The very low numbers support that Jersey does not currently face a widespread knife problem and is a safe place to live. The new Crime (Public Order) (Jersey) Law 2024 aims to address this issue proactively, promoting a safer environment and ensuring the island stays ahead of potential risks and trends.
States of Jersey Police work in partnership with the Jersey Youth Service, schools, and leveraging the support of the Building a Safer Community (BASC) framework, to engage with young people, raise awareness, and address the misconceptions around carrying weapons. The initiative encourages open dialogue in youth clubs, schools, and the community about the reasons behind carrying weapons and the risks involved.