Teenagers face up to knife crime

Young people have already been taking a stand against knife crime

Young people's faces will appear on billboards across England and Wales as part of a drive against knife crime.

Teenagers who submit a picture of themselves holding the message "I say no to knives" will feature in the government campaign.

Posters in knife crime hotspots will be updated with supporters' pictures, as part of a £3m marketing drive.

Young people can submit photographs to the "It Doesn't Have to Happen" page on the Bebo social networking website.

Largely-blank posters will be put up in dozens of areas including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Swansea and Portsmouth.

Crucial message

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I want young people to stand united with us in the fight to tackle knife crime and send a clear message that weapons won't be tolerated on our streets.

It is crucial we all spread the message more widely that carrying a knife is not acceptable Home Secretary Jacqui Smith

"Over 60,000 young people have visited the 'It Doesn't Have to Happen' page on Bebo and the site has over 6,000 friends.

"The vast majority of young people are honest and law-abiding and it is crucial that we all spread the message more widely that carrying a knife is not acceptable."

England footballers David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and David James helped launch the It Doesn't Have to Happen campaign in August.

The government's anti-knife advertising drive got under way in May, when images of real injuries inflicted by knives were published in internet advertisements.

The interactive billboard campaign will run in phases over the next three months, including featuring in the 10 areas in the government's Tackling Knives Action Programme.

Those are London, Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley.