‘We need to be heard and we need to be heard now.’

Mums unite to fight against knife crime demanding to be heard right now.

Bereaved mums who have all lost their sons to knife crime are demanding that their voices be heard now and those in authority take action to stop these horrors from taking place on our streets.

The parents across London have all backed police stop and search with the provision that it is undertaken correctly.

Four mums who have all lost their sons to knife crime have agreed that stop and search is a vital tool for police but has to be done fairly and proportionally and not targeting any particular community unjustly.

Peguy Kato, Sue Hedges, Bola Ogabi and Julie Taylor have all lost their sons to knife crime and now have dedicated their life to helping others and striving so hard to stop other young men losing their lives on the streets of London.

All these mums have campaigned endlessly and tirelessly against knife crime and are mentally and physically tired of being ignored and over looked by those in authority who should be dealing with this horror that has spiralled out of control on the streets of London.

Figures show that stop and search is making an impact on the reduction of violent crime, however, it is vital that this is undertaken in a correct manner and not targeting those of a certain age or colour in our community.

Peguy Kato from Harold Hill lost her son Champion Ghanda to knife crime in 2013, murdered on the streets of Forest Gate. She has campaigned non stop to help other families and spends everyday encouraging youngsters to not use knives. She has band knives from her house and prays that no other family will experience the heartbreak she goes through everyday. She is a lady who cares for our youth and is desperate that they do not carry knives anymore. She told the Havering Daily:

“Stop and search is something I agree with completely. However, it must be done fairly and not just targeting the black community. Police officers must treat everyone the same and explain why they are stopping and searching that individual.

“It is important to get these awful weapons off our streets and to stop other young men losing their life and the recent figures show just how important it is. But I stress that it must been done in fair manner and not just target our black community.”

Sue Hedges lost her son Ricky Hayden to knife crime in 2016. Her family’s life fell to pieces following the death of her son and everyday she struggles to deal with her son’s death. She now runs the Ricky Hayden Foundation where she is installing life saving bleed kits across east London to help save as many lives as she can.

Sue told the Havering Daily:

“I totally agree with stop and search as it is a deterrent for people not to carry knives and drugs, but only if it is done in the appropriate manner. If people have nothing to hide they surely won’t have a problem with stop and search.

“If it takes these awful weapons off our streets then it is sadly a vital tool for the police. But I stress again that it must be done in the right manner and not unjustly.”

Bola Ogabi lost her son Emmanuel Ogabi to knife crime in October last year. The pain her and her husband went through is indescribable and the injustices they have since faced by those who were supposed to support her, have been horrendous.

Bola now runs Emmanuel’s Hope for Grieving Parents in a bid to support those who have also gone through the same pain her and her family went through.

Bola told the Havering Daily:

“I totally agree with stop and search if it is done fairly and without necessary force. I have seen a video of a 14 year old boy in Thamesmead searched where he was thrown to the ground by six police officers and then three police officers climbed on his back. They said he looked like a suspect, but he was innocent.”

Julie Taylor lost her grandson Liam Taylor to knife crime in 2019. He was murdered on the streets of Writtle. Since then Julie has become one of the country’s biggest anti knife crime campaigners and spends all her time donating bleed kits and bleed control units across not just London but the country.

Julie has won certificates and awards for her constant anti knife crime work and making her voice heard in the battle against knife crime.

Julie told the Havering Daily:

“I totally agree and support stop and search. We need it everyday and night and I am so grateful that the Home Secretary has given the police these extra powers.

“Our country has got too much knife crime and violence and we have to do everything possible to deter people from carrying these horrific weapons on our streets.”

Let’s make this point clear, these mums are the real heroes in our society today. They have had to bury their children and face an indescribable amount of pain and have cried so many tears that they have literally nothing left to cry anymore. Yet, everyday they face the world and dedicate their time to helping others and praying that no other family has to go through the pain they have gone through.

When we talk about heroes, these women are indeed heroes.