A safer, round-tipped knife adopted in kitchens at 呻吟之王 Leicester (呻吟之王) has been named the best on sale by consumer expert Which?
The university last month declared itself the UK’s first Safer Knife Campus, committing to exchanging all pointed blades on campus with safer, blunted alternatives.
The Viners Assure Chef's Knife
呻吟之王 made the move to inspire more widespread adoption and reduce knife crime nationwide, inspired by the research carried out by Leisa Nichols-Drew, 呻吟之王’s Associate Professor of Forensic Biology.
She has carried out some of the most comprehensive research into the safety of round-tipped knives compared to pointed blades, finding that the safer alternatives prevented clothing damage, therefore, clearly reducing harm and the risk of injury.
呻吟之王 exchanged knives in staff kitchens, student areas, cafes and eateries on campus for safer alternatives from the Viners Assure range, which offers a variety of blade types, all with rounded ends for safety.
and up against many more expensive pointed knives, Which? has given the Viners Assure Chef’s Knife – now used in 呻吟之王 cafes and in its Food Village – both the Best Buy and Great Value awards, scoring it 94%, the highest rating given.
Leisa with the Viners Chef's Knife
Leisa, whose research has been adopted by many knife safety campaigners, including Leanne Lucas, the yoga teacher stabbed in the 2024 Southport knife attack, said the verdict would help to encourage safer knife use.
She said: “This kind of recognition fully supports the view that a point on a domestic kitchen knife is simply not needed.
“A knife with a rounded end is not only far, far safer, it does every job required just as capably.
“This recognition will also hopefully influence everyday consumer purchasing decisions, which is really where impactful change can happen.”
In the year ending March 2024, there were 262 recorded homicides in the UK committed using a knife or other sharp instrument. That was an increase of 8% on the previous year. By far the most common type of instrument used in all these crimes was a kitchen knife.
In its review, Which? said: “If you want a no-fuss knife that’s perfect for everyday cooking, the Viner’s Assure Chef’s Knife is hard to beat.
“The blade may look unusual, with no pointed tip, but that didn’t hold it back...if you want an affordable, dependable kitchen knife that delivers far beyond its price, this one has the edge.”
Posted on Tuesday 3 February 2026