Crime Night One: Knife Crime and Prison Conditions

Knife crime is a topic that sparks both fear and fascination, often making headlines with stories of violent gangs and rising crime rates. But is knife crime really out of control? And does cracking down on those who carry knives actually make communities safer? In this talk, we’ll look beyond the headlines and explore what social science research tells us about the real causes of knife-enabled crime - and what might actually work to prevent it.

Nelson Mandela once said, "No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones." But what do prison conditions really say about a society? In this eye-opening talk, we’ll take a global tour of life behind bars, comparing prisons in England and Wales to those in El Salvador, Singapore, and Norway. From harsh realities to unexpected surprises, we’ll explore how different countries approach incarceration - and what that means for justice, rehabilitation, and human rights. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on what prisons reveal about the societies that build them.