Our knife crime app could help save lives

Pupils who created a replica smartphone app about knives have said it is helping to turn their peers away from crime and gangs.

The dummy app, called Safe Edge, was designed in 2024 by teenagers at Portsmouth Academy as part of a regional schools competition.

One of the team, 15-year-old Daniela, said "quite a few people" in her year group had renounced knives as a result of discussions in school, where the app is used in lessons.

The academy said it was considering developing Safe Edge as a training tool in local primary schools.

It said the app was partly inspired by two knife crime incidents outside the school in 2024.

Daniela said: "I realised this really is an issue when my brother got chased by someone with a knife. I was really scared for him.

"Social media plays a big part. There's so much harmful content impacting mental health.

"If a young boy sees that and thinks if he carries a knife, he'll look cool and go viral, then that's really worrying."

Another team member, 15-year-old Sabriha said: "Can you imagine losing a family member to knife crime?

"The app has taught people there is help... even if you're scared."

Safe Edge, which is not available in app stores, won an award in a south coast schools business competition in 2025.

It has been praised by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, who said phone apps had the "potential to save lives".

The app contains a map of knife surrender bins in Hampshire and carries the slogan "Drop a knife, save a life".

Mahbuba Rahman, careers and development lead, said the academy was considering using it in a "mini-roadshow" on knife crime, touring primary schools in Portsmouth.

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