A government plan to use special boxes of fried chicken to warn about the dangers of carrying a knife has prompted a furious backlash.
More than 320,000 of them - featuring the Home Office #knifefree campaign - will replace the standard packaging in 210 outlets.
But yesterday a senior Labour MP slammed the Home Office suggesting they were guilty of racial stereotyping.
Tottenham MP David Lammy tweeted: “Is this some kind of joke?! Why have you chosen chicken shops? What's next, #KnifeFree watermelons?”
The boxes will be distributed by both independent and branch-owned chicken shops, including Morley's, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken.
Real-life stories of young people who have escaped knife crime will be printed inside the boxes.
Policing minister Kit Malthouse said they will "bring home" to young people the "tragic consequences" of carrying a knife, and "challenge the idea that it makes you safer".
He added: "The government is doing everything it can to tackle the senseless violence that is traumatising communities and claiming too many young lives, including bolstering the police's ranks with 20,000 new police officers on our streets."
Morley’s managing director Shan Selvendran said: "Morley’s are proud to support the #knifefree campaign.
"We have been saddened by the recent increase in knife crime. We want to promote being knife free by using custom chicken boxes to deliver the message and start conversations amongst all of our customers."
Knife crime offences hit a record high in 2018-19 - up by 8% on the previous year in England and Wales, according to figures released last month.
The figures revealed there were 43,516 police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, which is the highest since comparable records began in 2011.
Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott also criticised the scheme.
She said: "Instead of investing in a public health approach to violent crime, the Home Office have opted for yet another crude, offensive and probably expensive campaign.
"They would do better to invest in our communities not demonise them."
