Every day young people in NSW are involved in Knife Crime, families and friends are left traumatised while the victims suffer, this is why knives are banned in NSW.   But Education NSW allows Kirpans to be carried by baptised Sikhs in schools. (If you are unfamiliar with a Kirpan, it is a curved knife that the Sikh community have as part of their religious practices and beliefs.)  

On May 6, 2021, my son was stabbed twice at a school in the North West of Sydney with a Kirpan with a 10cm long blade.  It was the most traumatic thing my family ever experienced.  The offender was sentenced to Community Service, after nearly killing my son, he is now allowed to carry a Kirpan.  There is no closure or justice for our family.  We don’t want any other victim to experience what we did.

At the time NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, placed a temporary ban on Kirpans in all NSW schools. Channel 9 News  Less than four months later, the Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, lifted this ban on Kirpans; she announced that revisions had been made to the continued practice of carrying Kirpans in schools. Press Release Kirpan  Only Sikhs were involved in the review.  Other groups WERE NOT invited to be part of a balanced representation of the population of NSW, including The Parent Teachers Association, The Teachers Union, NSW Police or Labour Shadow Ministers. 

Groups and individuals involved in the incident were outraged when the ban was lifted. Knives are banned in all schools, except for Kirpans.  It is a Civil Law that should take precedence over a cultural or religious group's customs, the safety and well-being of students and staff must be paramount.  Sentences should fit the severity of the crime.

Education NSW: No Kirpans in NSW Schools.

NSW Attorney General: A fast tracked review of sentencing Laws around Knife, Firearm Crimes. For a victim, current sentences are pathetic.  Daily Mail Sentencing

Department of Public Prosecution & NSW Attorney General: Sentences - it should be about the Victim: Legislation needs to be reviewed about how to make the process focus on the mental health of victims and their rights as survivors of a violent crime.

Please take the time to sign this petition; together let’s keep young people safe.  Ensure Civil Laws protect the everyone in the community. Challenge the  NSW justice system for a faster review of sentencing and protection of victims.