Brown joins families' struggle against knife crime

Mr Brown said relatives of victims were able to give "the most powerful warning there is" about the effects of using a weapon.

Primary schools in knife crime hotspots will also be given information to help teachers tell children about the dangers.

The Government is working with the charity Families Utd, which represents victims' relatives, to launch the Count Me In: Together We Can Stop Knife Crime week.

Mr Brown said today: "I'm very proud to support Families Utd. Their unity comes from shared tragedy and their loss is the most powerful warning there is against carrying a knife.

"I believe young people want to see an end to knife crime, just as we all do, and I believe the power to make that happen is as much in their hands as it is

ours.

"So this week we're asking them to sign the pledge and say Count Me In to a world without knife crime."

The mother of murdered 18-year-old Harry Potter actor Rob Knox backed the campaign.

Sally Knox said: "I truly believe that we need to get into schools and educate young people about street violence and respect.

"Together with the other families who have suffered similar tragedies and the Government we can make a difference to the future of young people on our streets."

Barry Mizen, whose 16-year-old son Jimmy was murdered in south London in 2008, said: "Count Me In is a chance for all the young people of this country to add their voice, and display in a tangible way, their desires to bring improvements to our communities. It is all too easy nowadays to brand young people as aggressive and confrontational, when in fact that is far from the truth and most want to show they have much to offer and can be part of the solution."

Youngsters will be urged to sign up to the campaign at the Families Utd website or on Facebook.

The websites contain advice, information about further support and testimonies from the families and communities affected by knife crime.

n The Count Me In: Together We Can Stop Knife Crime week campaign websites are: www.familiesutd.com/countmein; www.facebook.com/

countmein; www.teachernet.gov.uk/countmein