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Knife crime awareness group asks how safe people feel

Family handout Owen Dunn. He has short dark hair and some stubble on his upper lip. He is pictured smiling, looking directly at the camera.Family handout
Owen Dunn was fatally stabbed in Swindon in December 2022

A group set up in memory of a teenager who was murdered with a knife is working with police to find out how safe members of the local community feel.

Owen's World works to raise awareness of knife crime after Owen Dunn, 18, was stabbed in Swindon in December 2022.

Family friend and CEO of the not-for-profit company, Joanne Davis, said that the survey, launched earlier this month, has found "not a lot of people feel safe" and even children have a lack of trust in the police.

"It’s about finding out why and what we can do to bridge the gap and also finding out what people want to see and how they think we can try and put a stop to knife crime," Ms Davis said.

Ms Davies and members of the police have been surveying people in the town, with the survey also available online.

Joanne Davis. She is pictured in front of a large poster with Owen Dunn's photo on it, although it is in the background and out of focus. Joanne has dark hair which is tied up, glasses, and is wearing a black hoodie with a red logo reading "Owen's World" on the side of the chest. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling.
Joanne Davis founded the knife crime awareness charity, Owen's World

The results will be shared with Wiltshire Police to help it gain an understanding of how people are feeling amid ongoing incidents of knife crime around the country.

Both organisations are also holding talks in Swindon and at local schools and colleges.

Ms Davis added that the police are always "more than happy" to collaborate with Owen's World to help "get the message out" about the dangers of knife crime.

"I think if we start to build the trust up from a younger age, then by the time they reach teenage years then hopefully they will have that trust and we can build a better relationship," she added.

In January, two teenagers were convicted of murdering Mr Dunn, following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

PCC Philip Wilkinson. He has short grey hair. He is wearing a blue shirt underneath a bright yellow high-vis jacket. He is looking directly at the camera and smiling.
PCC Philip Wilkinson is supporting the team behind Owen's World

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire, Philip Wilkinson, said: "We have to try and protect our young people."

Wiltshire Police has also launched a campaign entitled 'Spot the Signs Spot the Crimes', which aims to help parents and guardians recognise child exploitation and the violence associated with it.

"The loud lesson must be, it’s not smart, you’re not hard, it’s dumb, you’re going to cause harm to other people and that will cause harm to yourself.

"We will catch you and we will lock you up," Mr Wilkinson said.

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