Will anyone tackle the increase in violent crime on our streets?

‘Tackle knife crime now because if it comes knocking at your door- it is too late.’

This week has seen another horrendous violent crime attack across the streets of London. The Hainault sword attack has left another child dead on the capital’s streets and more parents weeping for the loss of a child. Just yesterday evening police responded to another stabbing incident in Dagenham that has left a 19 year old man in a life threatening condition. There were also reports of gunshots in the area following the stabbing. Quick work by the police has seen a suspect already arrested.

People who moved from inner London to leave behind violent streets and enjoy the more tranquil streets of outer London are now facing the same level of crime. Residents across Havering are watching knife crime impact their streets and those of their neighbour’s, on a regular basis. We are repeatedly told by all parties and politicians that they are ‘tough on crime‘, but our streets tell a completely different picture.

Bereaved parents and anti knife crime campaigners are urging, begging, pleading all politicians to ban the sale of these horrendous weapons that we saw used on Tuesday at the Hainault sword attack. They are sadly all too common now and the impact de-sensitisation has had on our children and communities at large, is indescribably vast. Another police cordon automatically means ‘oh that’s probably another stabbing’. People walk away barely batting an eyelid as that is an all too familiar scene.

The current police commissioner has said that we need to stop the culture of knives. How long have bereaved parents and anti knife crime campaigners been stressing to all our communities and politicians, that this is what needs to be done and done quickly? These parents and campaigners tackling knife crime have done for an outstanding job on their own for years supporting our youth. They work quietly and tirelessly across London with teenagers to tackle this epidemic. Yet nobody listens to them, nobody acknowledges them and nobody seems to care. What are the chances that after the media stop covering this tragic incident this week, knife crime will continue just as it did before?

This is a public health crisis that must be addressed by all communities and all aspects of the community need to work together to tackle it. This is not a problem that lies solely with our much reduced police force. Ultimately it is our police officers who take the brunt of these stabbings, as most are first on scene and deal with the injured.

In the words of Peguy Kato who lost her son Champion to knife crime 11 years ago-‘Tackle knife crime now because if it comes knocking at your door it is too late.’

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