There are many problems that the governments in our world appear to want to fix, but who would’ve ever thought begging people to go without a popular kitchen utensil would be on that list? It's time for more "knife control" in the UK.
In response to the high level of knife crime offenses in England and Wales, the UK government has resorted to printing “#knifefree” messages on to-go chicken boxes at restaurants to convince people that knives are really, really bad.
As Sky News reports:
Real-life stories of young people who have escaped knife crime will be printed inside the boxes, distributed at independent and branch-owned chicken shops, including Morley's, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken.
“We are rolling out our #KnifeFree chicken boxes in over 210 chicken shops in England and Wales,” the Home Office happily tweeted. “They use real life stories to show people how they can go #KnifeFree.”
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
"We want to promote being knife free by using custom chicken boxes to deliver the message and start conversations amongst all of our customers,” Shan Selvendran, Morley’s managing director, said.
Those boxes will definitely be starting conversations, but I’m not sure there the ones Selvendran would like.
The point of this #knifefree campaign is to indoctrinate — wait, I meant educate — young people from the ages 10 to 21. The government is hoping that altering their “attitudes and behavior” will reduce knife crime.
"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,” Policing minister Kit Malthouse told Sky News.
Malthouse also stated they hoped young people would be challenged on the idea that knives keep them safer.
As one would hope, this campaign has been mocked, by many.
“Is this some kind of joke?!” MP David Lammy tweeted. “Why have you chosen chicken shops? What's next, #KnifeFree watermelons?”
Is this some kind of joke?! Why have you chosen chicken shops? What's next, #KnifeFree watermelons? https://t.co/34DwwxSmCN
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 14, 2019
Other folks exposed the UK government’s lunacy as well:
Honest to god if the best idea you have to tackle knife crime is to write stuff on fried chicken you should quit power forever in embarrassment, not tweet it out proudly like you’ve just solved world hunger you ridiculous sack of used dicks.
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) August 14, 2019
"How do we solve knife crime?"
— Ashles (@Ashles3000) August 15, 2019
"Well, it's mostly blacks isnt it?"
"Probably"
"What do they like?"
"How would we know?"
"Wait! I saw a comedy video on YouTube. Black people like Chicken Cottage!"
"Haha I saw that!"
"So let's write in Chicken Cottage 'Dont do stabbing!'"
"Sorted!"
That will solve knife crime, for sure.. not investment in the community or in the youth services...nope.. the story on the Chicken cottage box..
— Audrey (@AudreyAurus1) August 14, 2019
I am a mother of a teenager who works full time and I've been voluntarily running a self-funded book club for the boys in my community for the past 3 years, taking them all over the country to broaden their horizons and the Home Office is paying to decorate chicken shop boxes! Kl pic.twitter.com/7mBT7WGDZj
— Mel (@MelChayse) August 15, 2019
Do you realise how stupid this thing looks. And my taxes are paying for this?
— Peter John #GTTO🤚🌹🏳️🌈🇵🇸CorbynOutrider (@morrispexmouth) August 15, 2019
This whole push for a “knife free life” sounds like something you’d read in a fiction book. Hey, wait — didn’t “1984” take place in London?
H/T: The Daily Wire