Can anyone address the increase in violent crime on our streets? – The Havering Daily

‘Tackle knife crime now because when there is a knock at your door it will be too late.”

This week another horrific violent crime attack has taken place on the streets of London. The sword attack in Hainaut has left another child dead on the streets of the capital and more parents crying over the loss of a child. Last night police responded to a further stabbing incident in Dagenham, which left a 19-year-old man in a life-threatening condition. There were also reports of gunshots in the area after the stabbing. Thanks to quick work by the police, a suspect has already been arrested.

People who have moved from central London to leave the violent streets behind and enjoy the quieter streets of London’s suburbs now face the same level of crime. Residents of Havering regularly see how knife crime is affecting their streets and those of their neighbours. We are repeatedly told by all parties and politicians that they ‘tough on crime‘, but our streets tell a completely different picture.

Relatives and campaigners against knife crime are urging all politicians to ban the sale of these terrible weapons seen used in the sword attack in Hainaut on Tuesday. Sadly, they are now all too common and the impact that desensitization has had on our children and communities as a whole is indescribable. Another police cordon automatically means ‘oh that’s probably another stabbing’. People hardly bat an eyelid because that is an all too familiar scene.

The current police commissioner has said that we must stop the knife culture. How long have survivors and knife crime campaigners been stressing to all our communities and politicians that this is what needs to happen quickly? These parents and campaigners tackling knife crime have done an excellent job supporting our youth for many years. They are working quietly and tirelessly across London with teenagers to tackle this epidemic. Yet no one listens to them, no one acknowledges them and no one seems to care. What are the chances that after the media stops reporting on this tragic incident this week, knife crime will continue as before?

This is a public health crisis that must be addressed by all communities and all aspects of the community must work together to address it. This is not a problem solely related to our greatly reduced police force. Ultimately, it is our police officers who bear the brunt of these stabbings, as most are the first on the scene and treat the injured.

In the words of Peguy Kato who lost her son Champion to knife crime eleven years ago…’Tackle knife crime now because when it knocks on your door it will be too late.”

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