BURTON Albion Football Club and Burton Albion Community Trust are supporting Staffordshire Police's Ditch The Blade campaign.
The campaign aims to encourage young people to not carry knives, based around a poem written by PCSOs Andy Bagnall, Keith Mellor and Scott Swann.
The poem has been read out on a video produced by undergraduates at Staffordshire University by police officers, partners and well-known people from across Staffordshire.
That includes Burton Albion midfielder Ryan Edwards and Burton Albion Community Trust's KICKS Co-ordinator Adam Lawrence, both of whom read out parts of the poem (which you can see below).
This week during our #DitchTheBlade campaign we’ll hear from people who’ve experienced knife crime, been impacted by it or want to share their message of solidarity to tackle it together.
— Staffordshire Police (@StaffsPolice) September 16, 2019
Our PCSOs penned & filmed this poem, with thanks to @staffsuni who brought it to life. pic.twitter.com/vlawSnYTkk
Ryan and Adam were joined during filming at the Pirelli Stadium by PCOs Scott Swann and Keith Mellor.
Ryan Edwards said: "It’s a really important campaign which the football club and community trust were delighted to support. It was great to get involved and help get this important message across."
The video is used to support the force’s work for the national knife crime weeks of action, Operation Sceptre, which run in March and September, alongside a range of crime prevention and educational activity to educate young people on the dangers and consequences of carrying knives.
Police and partners aim to encourage young people not to carry knives and to instead choose a different path for their lives, one without the risk of prison, serious injury or death. This message is crystal clear in the poem written by the PCSOs.
Anyone who has any concerns around a young person becoming involved in knife crime or carrying a knife, can report their concerns via our website, Digital 101 (social media) or by calling 101. Alternatively, in an emergency, always call 999.