When you think about kitchen knives, you probably don’t imagine them as weapons in violent attacks.
But for Leanne Lucas, a Southport survivor of a brutal stabbing spree, kitchen knives have become a terrifying symbol of trauma.
Even now, nearly a year after the attack that changed her life forever, Leanne can’t bring herself to use one.
In fact, she’s campaigning to get pointed kitchen knives banned entirely.
The Day That Shattered Lives
On July 19 last year, Leanne was teaching a fun, Taylor Swift-themed yoga class to a group of young girls in Southport.
What should have been a joyful afternoon turned into a nightmare when 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana stormed in and started stabbing children.
Tragically, three girls—Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine—were killed.
Leanne, 36, stepped in to protect her pupils, using her own body as a shield. She was critically injured in the attack.
The Hidden Wounds That Won’t Heal
While Leanne’s physical wounds have healed, the emotional scars run deep.
She’s still grappling with trauma and fear every day.
“I never thought knife crime would touch my life like this,” she shared.
Now, she’s constantly alert—always checking for escape routes and making sure her phone is nearby in case she needs to call for help.
Leanne even admitted she can’t feel safe in her own kitchen.
Since the summer, she hasn’t cooked a meal because subconsciously, she’s afraid.
“I didn’t realize how scared I felt in my own kitchen until I stopped using it,” she said.
She currently lives with her parents because it’s the only place where she feels somewhat safe from the constant anxiety.
Turning Pain Into Purpose With a Bold Campaign
This harrowing experience led Leanne to start a campaign called Let’s Be Blunt, which pushes for the widespread adoption of round-tipped kitchen knives to reduce the chances of them being used as weapons.
Rudakubana used two 20-centimeter kitchen knives he ordered online for just £3.40 each.
Leanne was shocked to learn there were hardly any restrictions on buying such knives.
She told The Times that each new fact she learned about knife laws made her question how such easy access could be possible.
“I kept thinking, surely there are laws to stop this,” she said.
Leanne credits actor Idris Elba’s documentary on knife crime for inspiring her to take action.
Elba pointed out that pointed knives aren’t necessary in the kitchen—food can be prepared just fine with blunt-tipped knives.
The Alarming Knife Crime Statistics That Demand Change
Last year, knife-related homicides in the UK rose slightly to 233 cases.
Thousands of other offences, like threats with knives or possession of blades, are recorded every year—over 27,000 in 2023/24 alone.
These figures highlight a worrying trend that Leanne wants to tackle head-on.
Her campaign encourages people to take stock of the sharp knives in their homes and consider swapping pointed blades for safer alternatives.
Supporters can pledge to make the change as part of a broader effort during Knife Crime Awareness Week.
Finding Support From Influential Figures
Since starting her campaign, Leanne has met with members of the royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, and several MPs.
She described the meetings as an honor and felt supported by their genuine concern for victims.
She also appreciated Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s assurances that measures to tackle knife crime are underway.
While previous governments have cracked down on dangerous knives like zombie knives and machetes, pointed kitchen knives remain widely available.
Labour plans to enforce stricter rules on online knife sales, including two-step verification and penalties for social media platforms that fail to remove knife crime content.
Frustration and Determination Fuel the Campaign
Despite the support, Leanne is angry that survivors like herself have to be the ones pushing for change.
“Why do I have to say this? Why does it fall on survivors to make a difference?” she asked.
The responsibility weighs heavy on her, especially since she doesn’t think she’ll ever return to teaching after the trauma.
“I can’t be a teacher anymore,” Leanne confessed. “That level of responsibility feels impossible now.
It makes me really sad.” Instead, she’s focused on working with children in different ways while speaking out about knife crime and advocating for safer kitchen tools.