Keep the door open, don't choose a knife

• New campaign aimed at reducing knife crime shares empowering message to help young people make positive choices
• Priorities and community response for tackling serious violence set out in new strategy
• People’s Fund will share out £500,000 to groups tackling serious violence chosen by the public 

A brand-new music video from West Yorkshire artist Nigel Ngwenya is spearheading an innovative campaign to ‘turn the tables’ on knife crime and make the region safer for everybody. 

Called ‘Keep the Door Open’ it delivers an empowering message to young people that their future is literally in their hands. 

Led by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and Violence Reduction Partnership, the campaign focuses on the long-term consequences of carrying a knife. 

It shows how one decision has the potential to impact life opportunities, whether that’s education, employment, or relationships.  

Local Leeds artist Nigel said: 

“Music and storytelling can help start these conversations because it’s something a lot of people can relate to.  

“I hope this campaign can start to spark new conversations around serious crime, knife crime, and especially around young people.  

“Creativity and opportunities for young people to express themselves are hugely important because it’s one sure-fire way, one really accessible way, for people to say who they are and what they represent.”  

The campaign is set to be launched at Wakefield’s CAPA College today (Wednesday 27th May) alongside the ‘People’s Strategy’ for tackling serious violence. 

The strategy is the culmination of a year’s work, hearing from local people about the profound impact serious violence has on victims, families, and communities. 

Based on 5,000 responses to a public consultation, key themes include tackling knife crime, the impact of gangs and organised crime, and reducing violence against women and girls. 

It will also help to meet Government missions of halving both knife crime and violence against women and girls within a decade.  

Meanwhile, local groups and organisations from across the county that have received a share of £500,000 from the Mayor’s ‘People’s Fund’ will be officially announced following a series of public votes. 

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“We’ve spent the last year listening to how residents want us to tackle the scourge of serious violence across the region. 

“And we’re taking action by launching a unique campaign to empower young people through music to make the right decisions and avoid a life of crime. 

“We are giving people the choice of how our investment should be made to tackle serious violence, because it is a team effort creating a safer, fairer West Yorkshire and we couldn’t achieve that without the support of our communities.” 

• Recorded knife crime is decreasing in West Yorkshire, with a reduction of 11.3% over the last year.
• In January, Mayor Tracy Brabin launched her People’s Fund, with up to £100,000 made available in each of the five districts for local groups and organisations to deliver projects working to tackle serious violence.
• The Violence Reduction Partnership and its partners across West Yorkshire have supported more than 16,000 young people under 25 and almost 1,000 adults since April 2025.  
• The Mayor’s Women’s Safety Unit is contributing towards better outcomes for victims in West Yorkshire, such as significant rises in Clare’s Law requests and use of Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders.

To find out more about the serious violence strategy visit the strategy's webpage. 

And to watch the full campaign video, visit the dedicated webpage.