A regional daily is calling for education about knife crime to be made part of the National Curriculum in schools.

The Northern Echo has made the plea as part of its campaign on the issue, launched last year following the fatal stabbings of two teenagers in the North-East of England.

As a result, the Darlington-based Echo launched the North East Knife Crime Taskforce to tackle the problem, which has now made the recommendation after meeting for the second time.

The newspaper splashed on its plea on Monday.

Editor Gavin Foster told HTFP: “The North East Knife Crime Task Force is really gathering momentum and it was fantastic to have even greater representation from police forces, police and crime commissioners, other agencies and of course those hit hardest – the families of victims at this second meeting.

“It was clear from everyone in the room that educating our young people to the dangers and the impact of knives is the single-most important part of preventing future tragedies and some of that work being done from families and others was highlighted.

“But it was also clear that this isn’t happening in all schools – with examples of where schools have even refused to be involved in such education schemes.

“We need this to change. We believe every child should get this message and we are calling on the Department of Education to make knife-crime education compulsory and part of the curriculum in all schools and all year groups. This could literally save lives.”

Speaking to the Echo, a Department for Education spokesperson pointed out it is investing £50m to “fund specialist support in both mainstream and Alternative Provision schools in the areas where serious violence most impacts children”.

The spokesperson added: “Schools can tailor their teaching to suit the issues that their pupils face, including focusing on knife crime as part of the ‘criminal exploitation’ parts of the relationships, sex and health curriculum.”