THERE is growing concern as Reading has sadly seen a huge rise in knife crime lately.

The Reading Chronicle is backing calls to prevent and tackle the problem in our town, and has launched a campaign.

This week, we spoke to the CEO of The Ben Kinsella Trust, Patrick Green.

The Trust's website explains its aim is to educate young people about the dangers of knife crime and help them to make positive choices to stay safe.

It was set up following the death of 16-year-old Ben who was stabbed to death in London in 2008.

The Trust runs workshops which follow the journey of both the victim and the offender through a series of immersive experiences to show young people how choices and consequences are linked.

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The workshops also debunk the myth that carrying a knife will protect you.

Resources are also provided to young people through online lessons which educate them to make better choices.

Parents can also use resources from the Trust which help them talk to young people about the risks of carrying knives.

Mr Green expressed the importance of young people speaking to a trusted adult and believes "we don’t talk to young people enough about this subject".

He said: "Start to talk to people about knife crime.

"It’s only when we talk to young people that we gauge what is going on with them."

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He reiterated: "Talk to those young people about what is going on for them and what they can do to keep themselves safe."

Sadly, Reading has seen a rise in knife crime in recent months with two men killed in the town in the last couple of weeks alone.

Mr Green said: "The horrific incidents that we have seen in Reading over the last few months will be worrying for everybody in the vicinity."

He thinks it is important to "tackle the cause" of the crime and support the police too.

For more information on the Trust's work visit benkinsella.org.uk.