‘Those who stab others get prison sentences-parents get life sentences’-Why its time we must unite as a community to beat knife crime.

Last year Havering and Redbridge GLA Member Keith Prince and The Havering Daily held a knife crime summit at City Hall. The meeting saw many bereaved parents, charity workers, anti knife crime campaigners and police officers talk about the vast impact knife crime is having on families across the capital.

Peguy Kato lost her son Champion Ganda in 2013 and in a speech at City Hall she told listeners: “Those who commit knife crime get prison sentences, we as parents get life sentences as our pain never goes away.”

The Havering Daily has been covering knife crime ever since the paper was launched. We have covered endless stabbings across most of London and most importantly, the horrendous impact it has made on families and its victims. It is time now, that as a capital city, we unite against knife crime.

There are many fantastic anti knife crime charities across London and campaigners who do an amazing job working with our youth. Youth Unity work tirelessly across Romford and all of London to help youngsters have a better future. Kick Off @3, run endless programmes to support our youth across the country. Spoken word artist and anti knife crime campaigner Quinten Milise is an incredible speaker whose work leaves you truly speechless at how powerful it is. Peguy Kato from All Champion’s Charity runs regular youth events to give our teenagers the chance to speak out.

Then of course we have the bereaved parents who now dedicate their lives to donating bleed kits in the desperate bid to stop other teenagers from dying on our streets.

Sue Hedges from the Ricky Hayden Memorial is found on the streets of London donating vital life saving Daniel Baird bags. Her sadness motivates her to help others in the hope that no one else will lose their life. Cecilia in Redbridge campaigns tirelessly against knife crime and donates Daniel Baird bleed kits across schools and youth clubs. Julie Taylor from the Liam Taylor Memorial is found in Essex and London everyday with Daniel Baird bleed kits in her hand, donating them to as many organisations as possible to help save lives. She begs our youth to not use knives and have to lose a loved one like she did. Lisa from Let the Youth Live is found in South London donating Daniel Baird bleed kits to as many venues as she can to stop others from dying.

Everyday-as the rest of us go about our daily lives, these individuals are out on the streets desperately trying to stop another child losing their life. They pray and hope that one day this nightmare will stop.

Now, in 2024, it is time we unite as a capital against knife crime. Not one person in authority has chosen to combat this public health crisis, so it is time that as a community we stand up and fight it. Let’s stand together and make our voices heard. Join forces with our bereaved parents now and fight knife crime.

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