Knife crime: tackling the problem

Knife crime is in the headlines daily, whether it be reports of another stabbing or of ways to try to deal with the problem.

Your News was contacted by 39-year-old Barry Edwards from Luton.

As an ex-offender Barry has spent the last 17 years turning his life around.

"SCARED AS HELL"

From an early age Barry has been:

>In trouble with the authorities
>Expelled from school for taking other childrens dinner money
>Involved in burglary & robbery
>At 16 went to a young offenders institution for forgery
>Ended up in Brixton & wandsworth prison

It was there that he made up his mind not spend any more of his life behind bars.

"In prison I started to see how disgusting it was and I saw how difficult it was for the people who cared for me.
"When I was transferred to an adult prison for the first time I saw men in there who were old enough to be my dad. That's when I realised I couldn't stay in prison.
"I remember leaving prison and the officer saying they'd see me back at Christmas. I said 'no thanks' and never went back."

"WILL THINK TWICE"

Since that day he has worked hard - gaining a media degree and using his experience to help others.

Barry works with young people, to show them that there are opportunities out there and an alternative to a career in crime.

"In prison you learn how to keep bad company.
"If I was told back then that I'd suffer for the next ten years; just trying to break even, getting a job or references, I would have thought twice about it."

Barry thinks the way to tackle knife and other youth crime is to start early. "It's too late once the crime has been committed", he says.
He thinks that showing the pain caused by those who have lost loved ones, gruesome pictures of the damage a knife can do and the consequences of a prison sentence will go a long way to help people make the decision to put their knives down.