Youth workers will be back on the streets of Nottinghamshire to work with young people at risk of becoming victims of knife crime.

The Home Office has handed £60,000 to the Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping after Nottinghamshire Police missed out on funding last year.

Police will invest £30,000 into recruiting a network of youth workers who will work in priority areas like St Ann's and Radford.

Police are also investing the other £30,000 into a hard-hitting play performed by former knife crime offenders and victims, which will go out to schools and academies. 

Youth workers will be out on the streets trying to deter young people from getting involved in crime during the evenings.

An exact number has not yet been drawn up, but many of the youth workers will already be working for partner agencies, and this will be an extension of the work already carried out.

Mr Tipping said: "There are lots of youths on the streets that are at risk and we are going to employ people to engage and work with them.

"The money has got to be spent by March. They will be out late afternoon and evening working with young people seen to be at risk, in hot spots where we know there is a problem."

Mr Tipping also praised the work of The Pythian Club, which works with young people affected by knife crime.

The play - Double Edge - was written and directed by Syed Ali, a member of the club.

The play is about the consequences of carrying and using a blade in Nottingham, and is followed by a workshop where the themes are explored.

It has already been performed at the Bonington Theatre in Arnold.

Ben Rosser of The Pythian Club pictured at The Forest Sports Zone at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham.
Ben Rosser of The Pythian Club pictured at The Forest Sports Zone at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham.

Ben Rosser, founder of the Pythian Club, said: "We are grateful to Paddy and the team. It is something that is well needed and it will help us develop Double Edge so we can offer it to young people who will benefit from seeing it.

"We have had a lot of interest nationally but our full focus is in Nottingham. The intention is to take it into all schools in Nottinghamshire, academies and primaries where appropriate."

Knife crime has risen by 11 percent across the county compared to the national average of 13 percent.

There were 880 crimes involving a knife, 408 were assaults with injury and six resulted in murder and attempted murder between October 2017 to September 2018.

Police said in November that they might have to scale back their work on fighting knife crime after the Home Office rejected their bid for a slice of £17.7m .

Twenty-nine projects were awarded Home Office funding to divert children and young people away from violent crime, 10 of which were based in London.

But now the Home Office has decided to hand £60,000 to Nottinghamshire.

A Home Office spokesman said: "As well as taking immediate action to curb serious violence, we need a longer-term approach to prevent our young people from getting drawn into a life of crime in the first place.

"Our Serious Violence Strategy sets out the action we are taking to tackle violent crime, which focuses on early intervention alongside strong enforcement.

"As part of this drive to tackle violent crime in our communities, Nottinghamshire Police and the Crime Commissioner will be awarded £60,000 to help local organisations engage with young people at risk of offending."