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ANTI-KNIFE CRIME CAMPAIGN: An example of the #KnifeFree chicken box (Image: Home Office)

DIANE ABBOTT has slammed the Home Office’s anti-knife crime chicken box campaign, calling it “crude and offensive”.

The Home Office unveiled the new scheme as part of its efforts to tackle knife crime yesterday.

More than 321,000 #KnifeFree chicken boxes will be distributed at over 210 chicken shops in England and Wales.

The special packaging will replace standard takeaway boxes in chicken shops including Morley’s Dixy Chicken and Chicken Cottage.

Each #KnifeFree chicken box will feature real life stories of those affected by or involved in knife crime and signpost people on how to be knife free.

CRITICISM: Diane Abbott is among those who have slammed the #KnifeFree chicken box campaign

Responding to the campaign launch, Abbott tweeted: “Instead of investing in a public health approach to violent crime, the Home Office have opted for yet another crude, offensive and probably expensive campaign. They would do better to invest in our communities not demonise them.”

The Labour MP is not alone in her criticism of the campaign.

Former Metropolitan Police Chief Supt Dal Babu, told The Victoria Derbyshire Show that the decision to use chicken shops was based on a stereotype.

“Why didn’t they go to McDonald's? Why didn’t they go to the fish and chip shop? There’s a whole range of places that they could have gone to. They’ve gone to chicken shops because it fulfils a stereotype,” he said.

We are rolling out our #KnifeFree chicken boxes in over 210 chicken shops in England and Wales, including Morley’s, Dixy Chicken and Chicken Cottage. They use real life stories to show people how they can go #KnifeFree. pic.twitter.com/vrG4WWa56v

— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) August 14, 2019

George the Poet tweeted: “Pathetic. £2.5 billion on more prison spaces, more police, more stop and search. And when it comes to proactively reaching endangered young people you slap some stupid stories on chicken boxes. You people are pathetic.”

Matthew Ryder, former deputy mayor for social integration, said: “When I worked at City Hall I discussed knife-crime with many stakeholders: community groups; police; bereaved parents; young people.

Referencing Boris Johnson’s “watermelon smiles” statement, David Lammy said: “Is this some kind of joke?! Why have you chosen chicken shops? What's next, #KnifeFree watermelons?”

“It’ll shock you to hear that no-one ever suggested the best place for government to spend money was printing hashtags on fried chicken boxes.”

Policing minister Kit Malthouse said: “These chicken boxes will bring home to thousands of young people the tragic consequences of carrying a knife and challenge the idea that it makes you safer.

“The government is doing everything it can to tackle the senseless violence that is traumatising communities and claiming too many young lives, including bolstering the police’s ranks with 20,000 new police officers on our streets.”

The chicken box initiative follows an initial partnership with Morley’s earlier this year.

As well as the anti-knife crime packaging, new street teams will be visiting convenience stores, hair salons and barber shops as well as places of worship and community centres across London, Manchester and Birmingham as part of the #KnifeFree campaign.

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