A REDDITCH anti-knife campaigner who has made it his mission to visit every school in the county to talk about Britain's knife crime crisis recently came to Bromsgrove.

Shortly before the holidays Pete Martin, from the Redditch Selfdefence Association, visited Parkside Middle School in Bromsgrove.

Mr Martin, who has the support of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion, has already visited many schools but says he wants to do them all - ultimately to help save lives.

While at the school he gave awareness talks and self defence demonstrations.

The aim is to get the simple message across that carrying a knife is the wrong thing to do.

On school visits he shows pupils how to react to different threats with a knife.

"Robbery is usually a different dynamic to a predator attack," he said.

"It is not be a boring course.

"Teachers I've had contact with have been surprised at how useful the course is, and have realised its not just about physical defences. The feedback from the pupils is great as well - they seem to enjoy it."

Mr Martin, who has spoke to thousands of pupils and young people, admitted that many children have said to him they sometimes carry knives.

He added that the biggest reason young people carry knives in our area is fear but that can be changed.

"I could not imagine eight years ago when I started the association that we would be able to have such a big impact on the community," he said.

"We have a lot more work to do, this is just the start. We have many more schools to visit after the holidays."

Mr Martin was joined my PCSO Joanne Evans, and Bromsgrove councillor Margaret Sherry representing West Mercia PCC.

This year the country has been rocked by a string of high-profile stabbings which have led to the issue being described as a “national emergency”.

For more on Pete Martin or the school visits, go to redditchselfdefence.co.uk.