30/07/2009

'YouTube' Campaign Targets Knife Crime

The Metropolitan Police Service is urging young boys to "choose a different ending" in a new interactive publicity campaign running on the video website YouTube.

The campaign, filmed from the point of view of a teenage boy allows users to interact with a series of films on YouTube and decides what happens next.

The premise behind the campaign is to show young people the consequences of decisions they make: choosing to carry a knife or not.

The campaign aims to dispel the myth that carrying a knife gives you protection and to provoke youngsters to think carefully about their decisions by showing them the consequences of carrying a knife: death, shame on family, prison.

The film was promoted through advertising across relevant online sites, MTV channels and radio to encourage young people to interact with the film.

Visitors using the interactive content are also encouraged to visit the Met's microsite www.droptheweapons.org to hear from real Londoners about their experiences of carrying weapons.

The campaign has been running unbranded from 6 July. Since Monday 27 July the film and TV and radio advertising will carry the MPS logo.

The campaign which supports the ongoing operational activity with increased activity planned for the summer holiday period and will finish on 4 August. The YouTube film, however, will continue to be shown on YouTube.

Commander Mark Simmons, head of Operation Blunt 2, said: "The campaign reflects our key messages to young people that carrying a knife can have serious consequences, and that before they choose to do so, they need to stop and think about their actions.

"Knife crime is down 8% compared with last year, however ten people have lost their lives this year, and we will continue to do everything we can to combat knife crime."

He added: "The message in London is simple: If you carry a knife you will either be caught and punished or you will be injured and possibly murdered.

"Make no mistake one of the most idiotic things you can do in London is arm yourself with a blade."

(JM/BMcC)

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