Record number of convictions or cautions last year
‘I’m horrified...it’s as if it doesn’t matter any more when another young person loses their life’
THE mother of a teenager stabbed to death in the street said yesterday that politicians and police had “blood on their hands” after knife crime hit a record high.
Godwin Lawson, 17, was murdered in 2010. He was stabbed through the heart trying to help two old school friends who were set upon by a masked gang.
Ten years on from the tragedy mother Yvonne Lawson, 48, said: “I remember naively thinking things would get better after Godwin was killed.
“Never once did I think there would be such an increase in knife crime. It’s pathetic. We are still not doing enough.
“I was horrified and disappointed to see knife crime had risen again. It’s almost as if we have become desensitised – it doesn’t really mean anything any more when another young person loses their life.”
Helpless
Police-recorded offences in England and Wales for the year to September involving a knife or sharp instrument increased to 44,771.
This is up seven per cent from 41,858 in the previous 12 months, and 46 per cent more than when comparable records began in 2011.
Former primary school teacher Yvonne now runs the Godwin Lawson Foundation, a charity set up to advance the education of young people so they can flourish in a tolerant society.
Godwin had grown up in north London but was living in Oxford where he had won a football scholarship.
He had returned home for the weekend to see his family when he was killed on March 27.
He was walking home with his friends when they were attacked by four men. Godwin went to help but was fatally stabbed.
Yvonne said: “I feel helpless and it’s as if the pain and anguish I have gone through since Godwin died has made no difference. Every day I have to live with this nightmare. All I have to do is turn on the TV and there’s a constant reminder.
“Time is not a healer. Every night another young life is being lost. I
Yvonne Lawson wants more to be done to tackle knife crime after her son Godwin, left, was killed by Moise Avorgah, right
would describe the streets as lawless. It’s like a war zone.
“Politicians and the police need to take a hard look at the laws and policies that are in place and evaluate them because it’s not working. They are not effective.
“Stop and search has a role to play because it can be a deterrent but it’s not just about stop and search, there needs to be other interventions to keep our children safe.We can’t let this go on because it’s all our responsibility to make sure our communities are safe.
“Most young people don’t know the consequences of carrying a knife. Who is responsible? Is it the parents? I don’t know. But everyone has a role to play in early intervention and prevention because there is no magic wand.” And in a defiant message to the heart of government she said: “Policy makers will continue to have our children’s blood on your hands until you become accountable and make proactive decisions to keep our streets and children safe.”
Godwin was knifed in the chest by masked thug Moise Avorgah, who was 19 at the time. Avorgah, who had a previous conviction for