By Elliott West
“Elianne was the light of our lives. She was bright and funny, with many friends who all adored her”.
Family statement
Introduction
It deeply saddens me when I feel compelled to write again about an issue that has frankly become a toxic cancer in our society. I am referring to knife crime and how it has claimed the lives of so many innocent lives in the UK. The worrying fact is that many of the victims and perpetrators are teenagers. At the time of writing this piece, another girl, a 15-year-old was fatally stabbed in Croydon after she tried to help her friend who was involved in an altercation with her ex-boyfriend. Although still under investigation, it is alleged that the boyfriend produced a zombie knife and stabbed the friend in the neck and chest, resulting in a fatal stabbing. Named Eliyanna Andam, this murder occurred in broad daylight during the morning school commute. The 17-year-old male has subsequently been charged with her murder and the knife found at nearby Cedar Road.
It is a sad fact that we live in a society today where a small but significant proportion of the population, feels it necessary to arm themselves with dangerous weapons which they are not afraid to maim or kill at the drop of a hat. Yet politicians can’t provide effective solutions. The current Conservative government brags on television interviews that it has legislated making several knives illegal since 2015 and has recruited an additional 20,000 police officers. However, when pressed on how they can limit these deaths, they have no solutions. Just that a general conversation needs to be had. MPs of all political persuasions are very good at appearing to be tough on crime when a general election is imminent but at the end of the day, many are just empty promises that fill up a party manifesto booklet.
Similarly, the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan seems to have been caught in the backlash of his predecessor, Boris Johnson’s ULEZ policy. Previously keen to fight knife crime, he has rapidly gone off the boil and is now faced with an alarming problem in London. It is very easy to attack the government in power as a smokescreen for your failures but if you just produce lip service and media opportunities, then the problem will just escalate.
“It is a shame that out country still mourns the deaths of children at the hands of knives. We need to enforce tougher deterrents and punishments to carrying these weapons.”
Idris Elba
The Solution
This is a very complex and emotive subject but what is clear is that the rug has been pulled on funding through grants to key players. By this, I mean charities and organisations that work directly with the victims’ families and help run education programmes in schools, youth centres and self-discipline in boxing clubs. Charities such as STORM in Battersea, South London. A charity that has a Peace Concert at Wandsworth Town Hall on 23 October. However, the money is not there. These organisations rely largely on charitable donations and social media campaigns. The red tape and forms for funding are endless and often lead to rejection letters. The deaf ear is prevalent and society suffers as a direct result.
Although prison should act as a deterrent and a punishment for a heinous crime, some decide to return to their crimes when released. Many prisons in this country are overcrowded with prisoners who would rather do the time than pay for the crime. Very few criminals are born to commit crimes and so it is still largely a mystery why someone would turn to something as hideous as knife crime. Personal circumstances and social situations can indeed cause some into a state of despair. Similarly, a moment of red mist may drive a person to commit an irrational act but that can in no way excuse the abhorrent act of murder.
The Way Forward
People in power must start listening and work more closely with those who have the life experiences and expertise in knife crime. If they continue to adopt a policy of knee-jerk reactions and react to a headline when a murder happens, nothing will change. The police do an excellent job of investigating knife crimes and prosecutions but they are stretched to the limit. It takes a significant period to train and bed 20,000 new police officers. Many of these crimes take place randomly and sadly it is the innocent who suffer as a result. So bad is the situation now that children are getting added anxiety about the prospect of going to secondary school. No child should have to fear going to school and being educated.
So cut the red tape, fund charities and organisations get around the table and try to prevent these deaths from happening and stop them from spiralling out of control. The youth of today are our future and should never feel abandoned. Death is terrible in normal circumstances but when it is cut short by a random act or premeditated is heartbreaking and I can’t begin to imagine what it is like for the parents and family who go through the loss of a loved one in harrowing circumstances. This is a life sentence of grief and one that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
