Nearly 60 percent of knife-related crime in Nottinghamshire is carried out by white people, new figures reveal.
Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping is hoping to break down barriers in the black community over worries 'young black men' are being stigmatised as knife-carriers despite only making up 13 percent.
Mr Tipping spoke out at the God's Vineyard Church in Lenton where he met key figures in the black community and called on churches to play their part in the fight.
He said: "Help us take things forward."
He also unveiled new funding worth up to £350,000 for local groups to apply for, with initiatives to combat youth violence.
He said: "There has been mistrust between the black community and the police but we are changing things.
"People should not stereotype and it is important that young black men are not stigmatised.
"There is a strong desire in the black community for their young people to achieve."
He said he was "really anxious" about the way perceptions had been formed, but the figures show young black men make up a small percentage.
Figures released by Nottinghamshire Police up to September 30 this year paint a picture of the ethnicity of knife crime offenders.
Out of 334 knife crime offences in Nottinghamshire where charges or community resolutions were made:
- 197 were white (59 percent)
- 59 were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (17.7 percent), 44 of which were black (13 percent).
- 78 had an unknown ethnicity or their ethnicity was not recorded (23.3 percent).
Pastor Clive Foster, senior minister from the Pilgrim Church in The Meadows, said there is a perception that knife crime is carried out by young black men.
He said: "We are perceived as perpetrators but we are victims, but that does not get mentioned.
"What we want to do is help support men and women that are potentially involved and we want to direct them away from it."
Mr Tipping added: "It takes the whole community to raise a child and it is imperative we intervene early to reduce the risks and prevent further tragedies on our streets.
"We need passion, unity and sustained effort to nurture the next generation of young people and ensure we put a stop to violence in all its forms. On the street, online and in the home."
To find out more about how to apply for the funding, visit the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner's website.
