Police Mutual supports Guns and Knives Take Lives

Police Mutual (PMAS) pledges support to South Yorkshire Police Guns and Knives take Lives initiative

Police Mutual has pledged their support to the Guns and Knives Take Lives education and diversion initiative, developed by South Yorkshire Police to tackle youth-related gun and knife crime.

First introduced in South Yorkshire in 2005, the Guns and Knives Take Lives initiative includes a team of 12 firearms officers and staff who engage with more than 20,000 children every school year, on top of their core roles as authorised firearms officers. The team deliver a 90-minute hard-hitting and impactful presentation in every South Yorkshire secondary school. They have done this every academic year since 2005 and helped reduce youth-related gun crime by an impressive 82 per cent.

Gary Howell, Development Officer at Police Mutual said: "Colleagues and I witnessed the Guns and Knives Take Lives team deliver a presentation at the 2011 conference for the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales and were really impressed by what we saw.

Aside from the powerful message, the moral purpose and care behind the initiative is inspiring. We are delighted to support such a worthy programme and hope that the £2,000 we have pledged will allow South Yorkshire Police to develop the initiative further."

Inspector Rachel Usher, Head of the Guns and Knives Take Lives team added: "While the Force supports the Guns and Knives Take Lives initiative it is important that we seek further funding to ensure that it continues to develop. Thanks to the support of partners such as Police Mutual we continue to go from strength to strength."

Police Mutual is passionate about Police welfare and is proud to be involved with a number of Police related good causes.

James Henderson, Commercial Director of Police Mutual commented: "We believe it's crucial to support the excellent work done by Police Forces across the UK who are dedicated to making a real difference and trying new methods to prevent potential crime. This is a fantastic example of where an initiative has made a massive difference and we are proud to be able to contribute financially to help it to continue."

Forces up and down the UK are now able to replicate the Guns and Knives Take Lives initiative in the form of a structured package put together by South Yorkshire Police. For the cost of £2,995, forces can purchase the package that includes the current Guns and Knives Take Lives presentation in full, a step-by-step delivery guide, learning and education materials and selected media.

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