How can we protect our children from knife crime?
As three teenagers become the victims of fatal stabbings in just one week, and school children are now being taught how to treat knife wounds, Closer asks how parents can help teens stay safe
TEENAGERS ARE VULNERABLE – IF THEY PICK UP A KNIFE, THEY ARE LIKELY TO USE IT ❜
The chilling extent of the UK’S growing knife crime problem was highlighted earlier this month, when two gifted students were killed during broad daylight in seemingly random attacks.
Jodie Chesney, 17, was sitting on a park bench in east London with her friends two weeks ago when a stranger approached from behind and stabbed her in the back. It’s thought to have been a case of mistaken identity, or possibly as part of a gang initiation.
Jodie, a keen scout, died just over an hour after paramedics were called to the scene. Two arrests have been made and Jodie’s devastated family paid tribute to their daughter, with her father saying, “She was the nicest person any of us know. Everything about her was about being kind and good and thoughtful.” Her grandmother, Debbie Chesney, said her murder highlights how knife crime can affect any family. She said, “How have we come to this point where kids can’t have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack?”
A day after Jodie died, another family was torn apart when 17-year-old grammar school student Yousef Makki was fatally stabbed in Cheshire’s Hale Barns. And as Closer went to press, news broke that 17-year- old aspiring barrister Ayub Hassan had died after being stabbed in London.
BRUTAL ATTACKS
Jodie and Yousef are among the 11 teens and children murdered so far this year. Figures show that in the 12 months ending in September 2018, there was a 31 per cent increase in knife-related crimes from the previous year, and the level of knife crime recorded is at its highest since 2011.
The situation is so severe, some school children are being taught first aid and how to speak to emergency services following a stabbing, in lessons arranged by charity Streetdoctors. NHS data showed that in the last five years, the number of teens aged 16 and under being treated for assault by knives or other sharp objects has risen by 93 per cent.
Anti-knife crime activist Garvin Smale says there are many reasons why knife crime has soared. He says, “Funding cuts for youth services means there are less places for kids to go to for support about issues, including knife crime. A lack of community centres means there are often a lot of different groups of people in communities that aren’t introduced to each other, and this can create tension. The reduction of police on the streets is also a factor, as they act as a deterrent.
“To tackle this, we need schools, youth groups and the government to work together to fund projects that give vulnerable teenagers focus and teach them the realities of knife crime. Some teens are carrying knives because they don’t want to walk away from fights and lose face – we have a responsibility to educate them so that they understand there’s no shame in walking away. Parents need to talk to kids regularly about where they’re going and who with. And if their child’s friends are carrying knives, it should be reported to the school or police.”
DEALING WITH GRIEF
For Alison Cope, the latest spate of deaths brings back the pain of losing her 18-yearold son, who was fatally stabbed five years ago.
Joshua Ribera was at a charity event in Birmingham in September 2013 when a row over a girl ended in him being stabbed in the heart by 18-year-old Armani Mitchell.
Joshua, who was a
gifted musician, died in hospital seven hours later, leaving his family and friends devastated.
Alison, 45, who now dedicates her time to giving talks in schools, says she’ll never get over the loss of her son.
She adds, “The grief never leaves you, but somehow you find the courage to go on – Josh would want that.”
Alison, who has an older daughter, Sherelle, 29, was very close to her only son.
She explains, “I was a single parent, so we’ve always been close. He’s always been loving and would give me cuddles and tell me he loved me. Each year, we went on holiday to Ibiza where we built sand castles and watched the sun set.”
When Josh was 15, he discovered music, and three months before he died, he released his debut album.
“On the day he died, he received his first royalties and bought me a watch to say thank you for my support. I was so touched and proud,” recalls Alison. “That evening, as he headed out to join his friends, he said ‘love you, Mum’, and gave me a huge hug – it was the last time I saw him alive.”
Hours later, Joshua’s friend banged on the door at 10.30pm and said Joshua had been stabbed. Alison raced to hospital, where she was told to wait while her son was in intensive care.
She says, “I sat on the floor shaking, trying not to scream.”
But doctors were unable to save the talented teen and he passed away at 6am.
Alison says, “I went in to see him and told myself not to cry as Josh would have hated that. I told him I loved him and was so proud of him. ‘Mummy has to go now,’ I said as I hugged him. When I got home, I screamed in pain.”
MOVING FORWARD
Josh’s attacker was found guilty of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 18 years.
Alison says, “It doesn’t bring Joshua back, but at least he can’t hurt anyone else.”
Four months after Josh’s death, Alison decided to channel her grief into teaching teenagers about the dangers of knife crime.
She says, “I wanted to help other families going through what we did.
“Teenagers are vulnerable; if they pick up a knife, they are likely to use it. We need to show them the devastation it causes to both the families of the victim and the attacker. We need to have these conversations with our kids.
“I will never get over the grief of losing Josh, but if I can help even one family not go through the pain we did, then I’ll feel like I’m honouring his memory.”