This week the No More Knives Tour, provided by The Message Trust, has been to six schools across the Fylde Coast reaching nearly 5,000 pupils.

No More Knives combines music with storytelling and education, allowing students to listen to first hand stories from those who have been involved in knife crime, understand the signs of being groomed into County Lines, and have open discussions. All students have been invited to a concert provided by the artists at the end of the week.

Officers, along with the No More Knives Tour, have visited Pegasus School, Athena School, Highfield Leadership Academy, Armfield Academy, South Shore Academy, Hodgson Academy and Lytham St Annes High School.

The tour has been funded by Blackpool Council, the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner and local Blackpool churches.

Sergeant Dan Whitaker, from Lancashire’s Violence Reduction Network, said: “The No More Knives tour has been hailed a great success throughout all the schools we’ve visited, reaching nearly 5,000 pupils. There’s been loads of interactive engagement, which is something we really want to see from this age group.

“We’re looking to reach other schools across West Division, and the county, in the near future.”

Emma Owen, from The Message Trust, said: “The No More Knives Tour is part of The Message Trust, which is a Christian charity that has been using music to deliver assemblies and lessons in schools for over 30 years.

“Our aim is to inform and equip young people to make great choices around knife crime and to empower them to be the change and become the solution to this problem.

“We are so incredibly grateful to Deputy Police Crime Commissioner Andy Pratt, Dominic Blackburn of Blackpool Council and the Churches together in Blackpool for supporting this tour and we are excited to see hundreds of young people celebrate at the finale on Friday night at the concert on Ocean Boulevard.”

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowdon said: "Hearing first hand from those with lived experience of knife crime is really impactive. Whilst Lancashire Police play a vital role in tackling knife crime, early education that can deter and prevent the types of violent crimes we see all too often in communities is paramount.

"In leading the fight against crime, I will continue to work alongside Lancashire Police and the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network to crack down on knife crime and ensure the Chief Constable has the resources required to bring dangerous offenders to justice and make our streets safer."

Find out more about what Lancashire is doing to tackle violence crime here - Tackle Violence Together | Lancashire Violence Reduction Network (lancsvrn.co.uk)

You can find out more about the No More Knives Tour here - https://www.message.org.uk/nomoreknives/

There are a range of activities available for young people throughout September at St Johns Church in Blackpool Cedar Square, once schools go back after the summer holidays – find out more here - www.blackpool.church/welcomeweek