BRADFORD Youth Justice Service has won recognition for its work across the district tackling knife incidents amongst schoolchildren.

It has been awarded the Kathy Biggar Trophy for its weapon awareness reduction programme.

The project was launched as a pilot in 2021 after several weapons-related incidents in schools, resulting in pupils being permanently excluded.

One-to-one sessions were held with students found to be carrying weapons, or deemed to be at risk of doing so.

Following the pilot's success, funding was received to stage further sessions – with West Yorkshire Police and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust – in school assemblies. So far, sessions have been delivered to over 15,000 pupils.

Sarah Griffin, for Bradford Youth Justice Service, says: "We are thrilled to have been awarded the trophy for our work.

"Knife crime can be devastating to victims, and those caught carrying weapons can have their life chances ruined, so preventative measures such as these have a hugely positive impact."

The Kathy Biggar Trophy, named in honour of a champion of best practice in the UK criminal justice sector, is awarded by the Butler Trust.

Its director, Simon Shepherd, said: "The programme identified a need and worked practically to address it."