For protection or for power: The reasons people choose to carry knives

Knife crime figures have doubled over the last three years Credit: ITV Wales

Knife crime. You think, ''It won't affect me. It won't happen where I live.''

Wrong.

It is happening everywhere. On the streets of Cardiff and beyond and it affects us all.

Teenagers I've spoken to in the Capital say they have become frightened to go out after dark because they don't feel safe. They say, "It could happen anywhere, at any time and to anyone."

This week I met two men, both in their early twenties, one from Cardiff, one from Barry. Both were stabbed in unprovoked attacks.

Ibby was attacked in Splott Park in Cardiff Credit: ITV Wales

Ibby Djilla was walking back from football training with his friends in Splott when masked men approached them. He saw a knife held to his friends throat and as he tried to walk away, he was stabbed in the back.

Louis Mills was outside a club in Barry. He tried to break up a fight and was stabbed in the stomach.

Louis was stabbed in the stomach Credit: ITV Wales

Both men say they feel lucky to be alive. Both men now live with the paranoia that it could easily happen again.

So why is this happening? And what is being done?

Young people I've spoken to say there are many reasons others carry knives. For protection, for power or because it's become a trend. The police also say a lot of knife crime is linked to drugs and drug gangs.

The good news is lots is being done to try to tackle the issue.

18 months ago, police forces across Wales set up Operation Sceptre, with specialist teams specifically targeting knife crime. They're also working with schools to help educate young people as they know early intervention is key. Knife amnesty's have also been successful.

Local communities are also increasingly recognising the role they can play in helping to tackle knife crime.

The Cardiff City Foundation run football tournaments for young people from deprived backgrounds to help communities come together, to break down barriers and help them realise they don't have to go down a path of crime.

The UK government also knows more funding and support is needed to make a change.

Whilst this has been welcomed by South Wales Police, as well as more Stop and Search Powers, they say it's early intervention and improved education around the consequences of carrying a knife that will really make a lasting change.