VIDEO: It is bereaved mothers, community champions and our police officers that are tackling the nightmare of knife crime.

Another weekend in London and another series of stabbings across the capital. The number of knife crime or sharp instrument offences recorded in London rose to 11,122 in 2021/22 compared to 10,150 the previous year. not a surprise to most, not even an interesting statistic to the majority of Londoners who have now accepted that knife crime is part of living in London.But should it be that way? Of course not.

Social media footage taken after an altercation in Peckham last weekend saw two teenagers grapple each other and then pull out-not a knife- but machetes. Both armed with these machetes ready to fight. The incident happened in broad daylight as shoppers walked by trying to get to their destination without being injured. Some looked, others avoided making any eye contact to avoid bringing trouble to their door.

This is how the streets of London are now. Youths fighting openly armed with machetes in front of members of the public who either put their own life at risk or walk by with their head down. It is of course left two our police officers to deal with, they have some form of body armour but still face danger everyday when attacks such as these take place.

Knife crime is not something we can police our way out of. There must be a multi faceted approach by all the community. There are many charities and organisations that work tirelessly to help our youth across the capital. There are also many bereaved parents who have dedicated their life by working with our community in a desperate bid to stop others going through what they have.

Peguy Kato who lost her son Champion Ghanda is so tired of trying to stop knife crime and no one listening to these mother’s pleas-“Unless it comes to your door people are not interested. No one wants to listen, ultimately no one cares. Then when it comes to your door, it is too late. I keep urging people to please work together before it is too late. I am so tired of saying the same things each day, week, year and nothing gets done.

“These children are our future, look at what is happening to them. They are scared to go out of their own house. They live in fear everyday.”

People fear for the safety of our streets stating that they have become lawless and youths are clearly running a rampage on them.

Charities such as Youth Unity run by community champion Shirley Jackson work everyday with youths right across the capital, inspiring them into a better way of life by focusing on their talents and getting them away from a life where the knife is the only option. Shirley runs many projects where she inspires youngsters by giving them hope and showing them that there is a way out. It is work like hers that makes a huge difference in our community and is so vital for our teenagers.

Sue Hedges and Julie Taylor both lost a child to knife crime and now spend their days campaigning and donating vital life saving Daniel Baird bleed kits to as many organisations as possible.

Sue and her daughter April Hayden are from the Ricky Hayden Memorial and are found on the east London streets handing over the bleed kits and campaigning to stop knife crime. “There are so many changes that need to be made. The police do a great job but they are the only ones listening to us. No one else cares.

“The deterrent needs to be stronger, there is no deterrent at the moment. Youths just don’t care. Our justice system is weak and as such there really is no justice except a slap on the wrist.”

Julie Taylor from the Liam Taylor Legacy has just recently won a Pride of Britain award for the incredible work she does tackling knife crime. She really spends everyday working to stop this epidemic and making her voice heard everywhere.

“My life and my family’s life will never be the same. The heartbreak we feel everyday after losing Liam will never go away, actually it gets worse. You wake up and think he is there, then reality kicks in and you realise he has gone and is never coming back.”

For these families, nothing will ever stop their trauma and pain, they have learned to live with it everyday. Yet everyone of these campaigners are incredible community champions who closely work with the police and other organisations to tackle this nightmare.

It is people like Sue and April, Peguy, Julie and Shirley that make such vital contributions to our society and save lives everyday, alongside our police officers who risk their own lives trying to save those of others.

Let us remember that those who revel in knocking police officers, are not the ones holding a child’s hand as he lies on the street fighting for his life. Police officers are always the first on scene and the unsung hero who talk to that youth during those horrific minutes waiting for an ambulance. Or those performing life saving emergency procedures to keep the youth alive.

It is all these members of our community that are making a difference when it comes to knife crime but sadly are not supported by others and as such the epidemic continues and scenes as the ones below that will carry on.

“Don’t let knife crime come to your door, please help us stop it now before it is too late,” begs Peguy.

Peguy with her son Champion Ghanda.

Youth Unity that does so much fantastic work across our community.