Current timestamp: 20/03/2023 19:24:44
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

cheshire-header-logo ( 1)

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

Schoolgirl’s anti-knife crime poster displayed on billboard in Crewe town centre

Main article content

Navigation

News

17:25 26/10/2020

Crewe’s Problem Solving Team has stepped up their efforts to tackle knife crime in the town – with the help of a 13-year-old girl.

Kinga Pietrusiak won the knife crime prevention poster competition that the team held recently via social media.

Now the Crewe resident’s winning design pleading for ‘less knives, more lives’ is displayed on a large billboard in the town centre.

The eye-catching design was unveiled on Friday 23 October.

daves pic
From left, PC Tom Towe, Crewe resident Rachel Dyer, who runs a local charity and helped to organise the initiative, and PC Tim Clark in front of the new billboard in Crewe town centre

 

It is estimated that more than 120,000 motorists a day will see Kinga’s poster, which will be on display in Mill Street for the next four weeks.

Police Constable Tom Towe, who ran the competition on behalf of the Crewe Problem Solving Team, said: “The competition was organised as part of our considerable ongoing efforts to tackle knife crime in the town.

“As well as taking direct action with things like knife sweeps, imposing dispersal orders and stopping people suspected of possessing weapons and searching them, it is extremely important to educate people about the dangers of carrying knives.

“That is particularly true for young people.

“Statistics show that young people are more likely to carry a knife and be injured by one.

“There are very real challenges and pressures that children may face, so it is essential to engage with them about knife crime and encourage them to be bold, reject knife and gang culture and keep themselves safe now and in the future.

“The competition gave young people in Crewe aged between 11 and 18 the chance to be part of Operation Gravitate, which aims to reduce knife crime in Crewe and the number of families affected by it.

“They were invited, via social media, to create colourful and eye-catching posters that highlight the dangers of carrying knives.

“The standard of the artwork we subsequently received was outstanding.

“The children who took part had come up with some fantastic ideas, but Kinga’s poster particularly stood out.

“She is a worthy winner and should be very proud of herself.

“I would like to thank the Safer Cheshire East Partnership for helping to fund the billboard and to make this initiative possible.

“I hope that lots of motorists take note of her poster that is now displayed on a billboard in Crewe town centre and that it gets more people talking about the fact that those who carry knives put their lives at risk by doing so.

“Thankfully, only a very small minority of people carry weapons in Crewe.

“We will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to tackle knife crime and keep our communities safe.”

Superintendent Peter Crowcroft, Cheshire Constabulary’s representative in the Safer Cheshire East Partnership, added: “This work to engage with young people about knife crime and highlight the issue to the wider community was worthy of Safer Cheshire East Partnership funding and I would like to congratulate Kinga on winning the competition and to commend her on the quality of her poster.”

Cllr Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for communities, said: “The council is working very closely with the police and other agencies to raise awareness of the risks associated with knife crime.

“The Safer Cheshire East Partnership is supporting those positive messages to keep Cheshire East residents safe.”

Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, who is Cheshire Constabulary’s knife crime lead, added: “Cheshire has a lower rate of knife crime than most other counties in England.

“We have a multi-faceted approach to tackling knife crime at Cheshire Constabulary.

“Our structured prepare, protect, pursue and prevent approach to combating knife crime involves various partner agencies, including local authorities, education providers, health authorities, third sector organisations, youth representatives and community groups.

“We will continue to endeavour – through education, awareness and action – to make Cheshire a county in which no-one carries a knife or feels that there is a reason to do so.”

David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: “This is an excellent example of our local officers engaging with young people in the communities they serve to tackle the big issues like knife crime.

“Well done to Kinga and to everyone else who took part in the competition and I hope this display will send a powerful message.

“Carrying a knife doesn’t make you safer, and the consequences can be devastating for all those involved.

“I’m pleased to see Cheshire Constabulary working to reduce the number of dangerous weapons on our streets, and to educate people about the dangers of knife crime, and I urge anyone with information about those who carry such weapons to come forward in confidence and report it.”

To report any type of crime involving weapons call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be passed to the force online via our website.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

Cheshire Constabulary

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Campaigns
  • News
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • Police and Crime Commissioner

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.