Family and friends of one of London's youngest stabbing victims have marched to Downing Street, from Great Dover Street calling for action against violent youth crime, which aprox 200 people took part.
David Idowu, 14, was attacked in Great Dover Street in Borough, south London, on 17 June and died in hospital.
His brother Peter met Prime Minister Gordon Brown and asked him to take urgent action to avoid "condemning young Londoners to a lifetime of fear".
A 16-year-old youth has been charged with David's murder.
TOUGHER SENTENCES
They chanted slogans such as "Drop the knife, save a life" and carried placards calling for justice for David.
The demonstrators said they wanted greater protection for witnesses giving evidence in court and tougher sentences for those convicted.
When Peter Idowu met the prime minister on Tuesday he read a statement to him about knife and gun crime and possible solutions to the problem.
"He (Gordon Brown) said I had raised some vital points which he's going to carry out," Peter said.
David was the 19th teenager to die violently in London this year.
Peter described how the "normal" day ended in a tragedy.
COMMENTS
"I came back from college, I got call from my mother saying my brother had been stabbed in the chest and that he is in hospital.
"At first I did not know what to think, I found it very hard to believe... What did he do to deserve this?" he said.
"Three weeks later when I got the news that my little brother was no more I broke down, tears uncontrollably just rolling down my face.
"May his soul rest in perfect peace."
David's friend Tosin Aiyelo, said: "What is this country coming to when we the future generation believe it is fashionable to carry a knife and then use it?
"We need solutions now, not tomorrow. For too long came the violence, then the sirens and now the silence. We need to work together and make a change as a community now!"
Showing posts with label Tuesday 22nd July 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tuesday 22nd July 2008. Show all posts
Monday, 11 August 2008
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.
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.
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