wHAT'S tHE pOINT?

Every day, we do small things to keep ourselves safe. We put on seatbelts, check smoke alarms and keep medicines away from small children.

These things are normal now. But once, they were new ideas. Someone had to prove they worked. Then we made them part of daily life.

However, there is one everyday item we have never questioned. The pointed kitchen knife.

Think about the last time you cooked. Did you need a sharp point to chop vegetables or slice bread? The point is not what makes a knife useful. It has just always been there.

That is, until researchers asked one simple question. What happens if we take the point off?

They tested both kinds of knife on real fabric. The pointed knives went through every type. The round-ended knives went through none of them.

One simple swap. Safer homes, schools and communities.

What is the Safer Knife Replacement Scheme?

The Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) runs the Safer Knife Replacement Scheme. It helps people swap pointed kitchen knives for round-ended ones.

It is a simple idea. We take the pointed knives away and give you a safer round-ended knife to use instead. We also give you safety advice.

The scheme makes homes, schools and communities safer, and it lowers the risk of harm, whether by accident or on purpose.

The evidence behind round-ended knives

Researchers at De Montfort University tested both round-ended and pointed knives and the clothing damage associated with them. They used real fabric, like the clothes we wear every day.

They tried to stab through four kinds of fabric. The pointed knives went through every type and the round-ended knives went through none of them.

What the study found

• Pointed knives cut through every fabric tested.
• Round-ended knives did not cut through any of them.
• On three fabrics, you could see a small dent. But the fabric stayed whole.
• This means round-ended knives are far less likely to cause serious harm.

What round-ended knives can do:

• Chop, slice and prepare food just as well as pointed knives.
• Stop a stabbing motion from going through clothing.
• Lower the risk of serious or deadly injury.

Why this matters

 Most knife crime in the UK involves a kitchen knife. Many of these knives come from the home.

If we change the knives in our kitchens, we change the risk. One simple swap protects you, your family and your neighbours.

Here are two everyday moments that show why the swap matters.

What can I do to get involved?

Anyone can take part. Below are simple steps for parents, schools, communities and businesses.

For parents and carers

Round-ended knives can keep you and your loved ones safe at home.

A one-time swap removes the risk. It is just like fitting a smoke alarm or using a childproof cap.

• Buy round-ended knives online or in the shops listed below.
• Replace every pointed knife in your kitchen.
• Talk to your children about why you have made the swap.
• If you are worried about a young person carrying a knife, get in touch with the VRU. We can help.

Your next step: You can buy the tested round-ended Viners Assured Range of Knives from various major retailers such as Amazon, Morrisons and The Range.

For schools

Round-ended knives are a science-backed and low-cost way to keep children, young people and staff safer.

They also send a clear message. Round-ended knives in your kitchens show students what safety looks like in real life.

•       Swap pointed knives in your school kitchen and food tech rooms for round-ended ones.

•       Add the safer knife message to your PSHE lessons.

•       Contact our team to find out how we can support your school.

Your next step: email the VRU team to find out what we support we can provide your school.

For communities

A safer community starts with people sharing what they know.

•       Talk to your friends, family and neighbours about the swap.

•       Share our message on social media.

•       Ask your community group, place of worship or youth club to join in.

•       Help us reach families who may need extra support.

Your next step: share this page with one person you know today or contact our team.

For businesses

Round-ended knives are a low-cost way to reduce risk in your workplace.

•       Use round-ended knives in your work kitchens and staff areas.

•       If you sell knives, stock round-ended ones to help normalise the safer choice.

•       Display our message in your shop, café or office.

•       Get in touch to find out how your business can support the scheme.

Your next step: review the knives in your premises and plan the swap. Contact our team to find our more.

Refer a family or business

Police and partner agencies can refer eligible households or businesses to the scheme.

If we accept the referral, the family or business gets a pack of four round-ended knives, or a single five-inch round-ended kitchen knife. They also get safety advice. In return, they hand over all the pointed knives in their home.

Who can we help?

We look at each case on its own. We will think about a referral when:

• A young person has been arrested for a weapon offence, or there is information that they are carrying a weapon.
• A young person is known to police for drug dealing, or is involved with a street group or gang.
• There is a high risk of domestic abuse in the home. The scheme adds to current safety advice. It does not replace it.

We also offer the scheme alongside other prevention work. This includes families working with key workers, out-of-court disposals or other services.

What happens after a referral?

We treat every referral with care. A trained worker will visit the family at home. They will talk through the swap, take the pointed knives safely away, and give the family round-ended knives in return.

The visit is supportive, and we are there to help, not to judge.

How to refer

If you have a family or business in mind, please contact us. Someone from our team will be in touch.

We can take referrals from commissioned providers and charities, depending on the case.

Frequently asked questions

Won’t a round-ended knife still cut someone?

A round-ended knife can still cut, but it cannot stab through fabric. That is what makes it far less likely to cause serious or deadly harm.

Is making the swap a legal requirement?

No. The swap is a choice. We are asking people to make it because the evidence shows it saves lives, in the same way that wearing a seatbelt saves lives.

Are round-ended knives still effective when preparing food?

Yes. Round-ended knives chop, slice and prepare food just as well as pointed ones. The key benefit is they present less risk.

Do round-ended knives cost more?

No. They cost about the same as standard kitchen knives. Many supermarkets and online shops stock them.

Can I take part if I do not live in Kent or Medway?

Anyone, anywhere can buy a round-ended knife and make the swap at home. The full scheme, with home visits and free knives in exchange, is for Kent and Medway only at the moment.