‘Stop and search is vital and we need more of it’.

Bereaved mothers and anti knife crime campaigners hit out at the Government and London Mayor’s failure to support the many parents who have lost their children to knife crime.

“Of course stop and search is important, it needs to be done properly and we need more of it, ultimately it saves lives,” Julie Taylor tells the Havering Daily. Julie is from the Liam Taylor Legacy, named after her grandson Liam ‘Fish’ Taylor who was fatally stabbed in 2019 at the age of just 19 years old. Now Julie spends everyday campaigning against knife crime and praying that no other family goes through the horrific pain her and her family experience everyday since Liam’s death.

“I spend a lot of time going out with both Essex Police and Met Police officers and they do a great job on our streets, but once again they are not supported. Nobody is interested in knife crime, until it impacts you. Nobody really cares,” she stresses.

“I have asked Sadiq Khan to step into my shoes for just one day, and he doesn’t, he doesn’t really acknowledge us in any way,” Sue Hedges tells the Havering Daily. Sue lost her son Ricky Hayden to knife crime in 2016 and has also dedicated her life to campaigning against knife crime. “Stop and search needs to be done properly we accept that, but it is something that we need on our streets today.There are so many changes that need to be made starting with the justice system. We need to work together as a community and we need politicians to support us and they are not.”

Both Julie and Sue spend every moment making their voices heard against knife crime and fight against so many obstacles to get justice for their loved ones and for the many families who have also lost their children to the knife.

“We are so tired of not being heard. We stand and campaign outside of Number 10, City Hall and across London but no one comes to talk to us,” continues Sue.

“The justice system needs changing, we are watching perpetrators get a slap on the wrist and walk out of court just to commit another crime. This has to stop. The police do all that work for nothing.”

Both ladies have had their lives torn apart by the death of their son and grandson.

“It gets harder everyday. When I wake up for that split second I forget he is dead, then reality kicks in and the pain returns,” adds Julie.

Both ladies want to make sure their sons are never forgotten and that their memories live on.

Let us remember Liam Taylor, Ricky Hayden, Ashley Wadworth, Champion Ghanda and all the other children murdered on our streets.

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