A disturbing new trend has emerged among young people across Britain, revealing a deeply concerning mindset amid the nation's ongoing knife crime epidemic.
The Fatal Question
Charities and campaigners report that teenagers and young adults are asking a harrowing eight-word question: "Where is a safe place to stab someone?" This belief that using blades can be justified in some circumstances represents what campaigners describe as a "deadly myth" that must be urgently challenged.
The scale of the problem is starkly illustrated by official figures showing approximately 53,000 offences involving a sharp instrument were recorded in England and Wales during the year ending March 2025.
Personal Tragedy Driving Change
Among these statistics lies the tragic story of 16-year-old Kamari Johnson, who was murdered with a machete in Hayes, west London, during a dispute over a stolen moped. His killer, 17-year-old Nabil Mezali, received a 20-year prison sentence for the crime.
Kamari's mother, Katherine Johnson, has since become a leading voice campaigning for better education around knife crime. She emphasises that all sharp instruments are always dangerous, and the notion that someone can be stabbed without risking their life is both false and extremely worrying.
"You have to think about their mindset," Ms Johnson stated. "The majority I think are looking because they feel unsafe, they don't want to harm somebody. We need to educate young people, there's no safe place to stab."
Educational Campaign Takes Centre Stage
Research has confirmed that children are actively searching online for information about where might constitute a "safe" place to stab someone. In response, the charity StreetDoctors has launched a powerful campaign video called The Fatal Question, currently being shown in hundreds of cinemas across the UK.
The film features Kamari's story and asks children from London to consider which body part would be safe to stab, before revealing the devastating truth that any injury can prove fatal.
Martin Tilbury, Chief Executive Officer of StreetDoctors, explained the motivation behind many young people carrying weapons: "Unfortunately, a lot of young people carry knives because they feel unsafe. They think, as a bit of protection, if they do get into an altercation they might injure somebody in a place of the body where it doesn't cause harm."
Ms Johnson advocates for comprehensive education as the solution: "There's not one thing that will help stop knife crime, but it's got to start with education. And helping young people understand their emotions, we have to learn to deal with our emotions differently. With guidance, with education, we can make such a big difference."
The campaign, created alongside advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, aims to shatter the dangerous misconception that controlled stabbing is possible, delivering the crucial message that there is no safe place to stab somebody.
