Crime Stoppers Victoria is reminding young people that carrying a knife has devastating consequences that can affect and change lives forever.  

The ‘Lose the Knife, Not a Life’ campaign launches today and aims to educate young people about the effects of simply carrying a knife.  

Recent incidents in Victoria have seen young people suffer serious injury and lives loss because of knife carrying. These incidents highlight the tragic ends of knife violence: 

• The stabbing of a 17-year-old teen on Saturday, 22 May 2021 around Elsternwick Park in Brighton. The victim was approached by around 20 youths, all unknown to the victim. The victim was stabbed in the abdomen. Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in relation to the incident.
• The stabbing of a 15-year-old teen on Saturday, 23 January 2021 on Cardigan Street in Carlton. The victim was approached by 10 youths. Three teens aged 14, 15 and 16 were arrested and face various charges including intentionally causing serious injury.
• The stabbing and death of 17-year-old Bless Mulukwat Akoch at Eagle Stadium in Werribee on Friday, 07 May 2021. A 15-year-old offender was charged with murder.
• The assault of 17-year-old Jason Langhans in Tooradin on Sunday, 21 March 2021. Langhans was struck in the head with a screwdriver and died in intensive care, three weeks later.
• The stabbing and death of 15-year-old Solomone Taufeulungaki on Tuesday, 16 June 2020 in Deer Park. Eleven offenders between 13 and 17 years of age were charged with murder.

Chief Executive of Crime Stoppers Victoria, Stella Smith is asking young people to stop picking up a knife in the first place.  

“If you use a knife to hurt someone, that person will either retaliate or suffer a serious injury. Either way, two young lives are at risk. One is at risk of ending up in prison and the other is at risk of being killed.” 

To help young people understand the serious health and safety risks involved in carrying a knife, the Alfred Hospital have delivered video messages in support of the ‘Lose the Knife, Not a Life’ campaign. These videos are available for media use. 

Deputy Head of Trauma from The Alfred Hospital, Dr Meei Yeung says despite what young people may think, there’s no such thing as a safe stab injury.  

“It’s fair to say that no stab injury is safe, and that it can all cause long-term injury and damage.” 

“What I describe to people is that it’s a bit like an iceberg, you’re only seeing the tip of it. A very long blade can cause a lot of injury, but you won’t see that because it’s deep. If someone is stabbed, you cannot assume that the injury is not going to eventually kill them.” 

Dr Meei Yeung wants young people to know if you are with a friend who has been stabbed, time is critical, and you need to call an ambulance: 

“Time between your friend being injured and you doing something about it is critical, because you don’t know what’s happened, where they’ve been stabbed, what injury they have sustained, what organ has been injured. It’s very important that once you identify that your friend has been stabbed, to call for help.” 

Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, North West Metro Region says one life cut short is one life too many. 

“To all the parents out there, if you come across a knife in your kid’s clothes on laundry day or see one in their possession. 

Police will catch them sooner or later and they will be in serious trouble. 

Worse, if they use it, the consequences are devastating – for the victim, the families and even for the young offender going through the legal system. 

Carrying a knife for self-defence is illegal.  Bringing a knife to a fight is illegal.  Using a knife to threaten someone is illegal.   

The odds are that if a young person has one on them, sooner or later they will use it. That’s why campaigns like this are important.” 

Stella Smith says the decision to carry a knife will lead to consequences that are unimaginable: 

“You may end up in an incident that’s escalated beyond what you could have imagined when you were in the comfort of your own home, making the decision to take that knife with you.” 

“You may end up in a situation where you’ve injured somebody, you’ve killed somebody, or the knife is being used on you. Crime Stoppers Victoria is asking you please to think about the consequences of carrying a knife.” 

Crime Stoppers Victoria is asking all parents, teachers and anyone with a young person in their life that carries a knife to speak to them about the consequences of that decision. 

Crime Stoppers has online resources directed at young people on the risks of knife carrying at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/lose-the-knife