‘Save Lives – Drop the Knives’

This project, initiated through former Markhouse Drama Club member Ray Aylott, was very much related to his experiences and concerns as a Community Police Officer working with many local young people and dealing with the pressures and issues of ‘knife crime’ – also upon his belief that peer education by the  young people themselves is one of the most positive ways forward.

Through his regular link with the Harwich & Dovercourt High School,  ‘Lives Not Knifes’ was developed with a group of their senior pupils – who devised, performed and filmed a short play conveying an important educational message about knife crime.

The project took place over a two day period with the scenes being filmed in various locations around Harwich – these depicting how the everyday activities, enjoyment and pressures of being a young person can quickly change to something more devastating when one of their group decides to carry a knife!   The group made full use the film/video facilities at their school and the support of specialist tutors and Officers from the Essex Police Constabulary Media Unit – with the latter also producing a documentary film about the overall project –and arranging for the young people to have access to film in the local Police Station Cells!

The resulting films of ‘Save Lives – Drop the Knives’, and the accompanying documentary made by the Essex Police Constabulary Media Unit, have both been used for training and educational purposes.

 

Click on images to enlarge & scroll

 

The above photographs of ‘Save Lives – Drop the Knives’  are copyright to the CMMF and are shown with the agreement of the Harwich & Dovercourt High School, Essex.

Harwich and Dovercourt High School Film – ‘Save Lives – Drop the Knives’ – YouTube link: HDHS Anti-Knife Crime Advert: 

Documentary – YouTube Link: ‘Harwich Students produce anti knife crime video’ . Introduced by Ray Aylott.