Schools in knife crime hotspots to get specialist training. 14 hours ago. Tom McArthur. Getty Images. Up to 250 schools in knife crime hotspots will receive specialist training in a bid to divert children from serious violence, the government has announced.. It said a £1.2m investment will help fund the measures, which could include mentoring for high-risk students and chaperones on school routes.. It comes as the government is expected to set out more details of how it plans to meet its ambition to halve knife crime within a decade.. The Conservatives accused the government of “massive cheek”, saying it had “created this mess in the first place with their police cuts”. The Liberal Democrats said “these measures alone won’t be enough to end the plight” of knife crime.. Reform UK said children were effectively being told “it’s down to them to protect themselves”.. Knife crime continued a downward trend in 2025, with offences down by 9% on the year prior and pre-Covid levels, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics in January.. While urban areas have long seen more instances of knife crime, some research suggests it has become more widespread over time.. The Safety In and Around Schools Partnership will train school leaders on the risk of knife crime and develop “local solutions to improve pupil safety and prevent serious violence”.. More intensive and tailored support will be provided to around 50 of the 250 schools, the government said.. Separately, the government announced on Tuesday that it had shared mapping technology with 27 police forces, able to pinpoint knife crime hotspots down to the nearest 10 sqm (107.6 sq ft).. The areas – which it said account for 90% of knife crime in England and Wales – will see a “dramatic surge” in police activity, including increased police patrols and new CCTV cameras.. It also said it was investing more than £26m into the Knife Crime Concentrations Fund to support the steps.. The schools partnership is being run by charity the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), which works to prevent violence among young people, and is supported by the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office.. YEF told the BBC it will be delivered in phases beginning with “early engagement” this school year, before “more intensive support” in the coming academic year.. Children and their experiences will be at the core of the work, YEF said, with the view of helping schools to understand where and when pupils feel safe.. A specialist school self-assessment tool will also be used as part of the training programme, it added.. Getty Images. Jon Yates, YEF CEO and member of the government’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said: “We know what works to prevent knife crime – a trusted adult, someone to talk to, social and emotional support, [and also] opportunities like sport.. “This programme – backed by the government – aims to bring that support to more of our school children, giving them the chance