London Knife Crime Epidemic

We live in wicked, perilous and tumultuous times nowadays. Headline news globally sound depressing and one can’t seem to get away with all the negativity and evil that permeates our societies, communities and countries worldwide. Never a day passes that we do not hear of violence, suicide bombings, gruesome killings, war attacks, political murders, contract killings, genocide and so on. London, Great Britain, especially in recent times is being terrorised by a peculiar plague, which is snuffing out, on a daily basis, the lives of our young ones, to be particular, our teenagers.

Knife crime is not a new crime to London. In fact Knife crime in London of today seems to be spiraling out of control and can be likened to an untreated cancer that has metastasized all over the body causing devastating results vis-a-vis DEATH. One tends to ask the question: why no correct diagnosis? Why no treatment, both curative and preventative? And most importantly, what happens next?

Living in London, being a mother and being a Christian, I am particularly disturbed by all these. This year alone from January 2008 to date, 19 teenagers have been murdered in London. 15 of these were killed by knife crimes/stabbing. Many if not most of these are black teenagers, and many from African descent. The latest victim to date, to die from knife crime in London was a 14 year old Nigerian boy by name David Idowu. He was stabbed 3 weeks ago and lost his fight for life 2 days ago. Among the list of casualties are two girls aged 15 (please visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7395875.stm for pictures and full details of all the teenagers that have been killed to date).

Why we ask are our young ones dying daily due to knife crime? Who are the perpetrators of these acts of violence? Why do our teenagers feel they need to carry knives? Why this vicious cycle and what can be done to break it? What is the British Government doing to combat knife crime? Are they in any way responsible for the upsurge of this crime? What role do the parents have to play in this epidemic - either to curb it or to control it, or are the parents responsible solely for the upsurge of knife crime? And very importantly, what role does the British Police have to play in combating knife crime?

In 2007, a total of 16 victims died as a result of knife crime. Going by the statistics in London to date, this seems to have doubled in 2008. How many parents watch their children walk out of the door, be it in the morning to school, in the evening to play, on Sunday to church, on Friday to mosque, on Saturday to the cinema and so on; wondering if they will return home? Even when this problem was not so bad, I, as a mother was always worried and kept a very tight rein on my children, monitoring them via the phone, taking them places myself, and always trying to be one step ahead of them when they try to play a fast one on me, especially to go parties, clubbing or “sleepovers”. It was a mammoth task. Even then it was better than now. I did not care what the British Government said about Child discipline, to be precise, corporal punishment. I will discipline my children and tell them to please feel free to call “social services on me” if they want. I could not just follow the British culture of bringing up children, with the children in control and wanting to dictate life to me.

“Spare the rod and spoil the child”, so says my bible. “Train your child so that you would have peace of mind in the future”, I reminded myself. My popular saying in the home is “Mi o bi omo oyibo” i.e. I did not give birth to an English child, but to a Nigerian child and we were brought up with sound discipline and “egba” (the whip). Nevertheless, children are apt to compare notes and especially with my last born it was always “war”, but I did not relent. Thank God she is still at home and in University. My son (being a black boy) must have gone through a lot in the world out there, outside the safety of his home. He was always getting into trouble then, but these were childish troubles like pelting passers by with pebbles from the top of a the famous London Double Decker buses. Luckily one of those hit happened to be a teacher from his school and I supported the school 100% in the punishment meted on my son and his mates. My son said he was subject to many discriminate police “stop and search” policy, for black teenagers then, were always picked on and he always found this stressful. Little wonder that when my son went to college in Weymouth (a coastal area miles away from London), he decided never to return to London to live and still lives there to date (7 years now). He possibly must have witnessed things he could not share with his mother. He just can’t stand London.

Today’s statistics on knife crime is depressing. It is reckoned that there are over 16,000 stabbings in London every year and over 38 stab wounds are treated in the hospitals every 24 hours! Even teachers in school are at risk and many schools have metal detectors put in. The problem of Knife Crime is not limited to London alone; there was one report recently of fatality caused by knife crime in Whiting, and 6 in Glasgow (Scotland).

Now back to the questions posed by me above. Here are some possible answers:

Why are our young ones dying daily from knife crime?

There are many knife crimes are drug-related. Many of our teenagers are involved in selling and taking drugs. They sometimes double cross one another, they sometimes leak secrets and hence they are” snuffed” out.

There is an upsurge in the gang culture and we have teenagers or youths from opposing gangs stabbing one another when they clash or in retaliation to what have you.

There are many innocent well brought up children who would refuse to join gangs, or drug cartels and they are” punished” for refusing to belong in.

There are other innocent ones who simply fall prey to these evil knife carriers e.g. a daughter of one church member I happen to know was killed two years ago because she was “a snob” and the boys could not “stand her attitude”. Believe you me this is true and there was nothing else to the story, for my daughter was attacked on a bus ride home from college once by four boys from her school. Her crime? She behaves in a “mightier than thou” attitude and was snobbish. Thank God for her life that there were no knives involved and thank God that her friend was able to dial 999 and call the police quick. I could not even prosecute these boys for fear of reprisals and just encouraged my daughter to let things lie and let God punish the boys. Thank God after a few days she summoned up courage to return to school and completed her “A” levels successfully.

Lastly there are many innocent teenagers who fall prey for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of these fall prey due to mistaken identity.

Who are the perpetrators of these acts of violence?

Gang members, drug pushers, sadists, vengeful teenagers (on perceived wrongs against them),untrained children, bored and idle teenagers who soon fall into mischief, psychotic youths, etc.

Why do our teenagers feel they need to carry knives?

Many of these youths carry knives with intent to maim and kill. Some do this to protect themselves (so they say), some have even resorted to carrying sharp pointed umbrellas to cause injury or “protect” themselves. Some believe they have to copy members of their gang or circle of friends by carrying knives.

Why this vicious cycle and what can be done to break it?

This is an important double-barrelled question. Britain has fallen into this vicious circle I say due to many reasons. First the lawmakers have taken control and discipline away from the parents by threatening them with court appearances, prison terms etc if they indulge in corporal punishment at home. This is also the case at schools. Also many parents just don’t have the time to know what their wards are getting into as they are so busy trying to make ends meet in our very expensive society. Some are just not there for the children and many would rather their children stay out and away from home for the sake of “peace” and Sanity at home and to quell the endless arguments and fights at home. The government have not helped either for they have given the children too much power, cushioning them unnecessarily with a “softly softly” approach to their behaviours and attitudes. Empowering children while “depowering” the parents surely would lead to role reversals. Lastly London has become a very diverse and multi cultural society and with this comes some of the evils of different societies.

What is the British Government doing to combat knife crime?

Thankfully the British Government are now waking up to this big problem on their doorsteps. But then it has taken an escalation of the problem and the loss of so many young lives for them to take a proactive stance. Well this is the start and it is hoped that they will be putting their directives or ideas into action. Many are calling for prison terms for anyone caught carrying a knife. But on the other hand London jails are full to the brim. The government are also talking of punishing parents who fail to control their children (don’t I just pity the parents who in the first instance were told they cant discipline their children?). Also the government are enforcing the hospitals to report all cases that involve knife crime/stabbings to the police.

Are they in any way responsible for the upsurge of this crime?

I say Yes. Reasons as stated above. There was too much respect for the children and young ones and too much shielding of them. I for one believe that identities of culprits and perpetrators of knife crime should not be kept secret just because they are underage. I am calling for the return of corporal punishment at home and at school but I am not advocating child bashing/abuse. The police are so busy with paperwork and bureaucracies. “Bobbies on the Beat” have drastically reduced.

What role do the parents have to play in this epidemic - either to curb it or to control it, or are the parents responsible solely for the upsurge of knife crime?

Parents should be given back the power to discipline their children. They should monitor these wards and seek to know what they are always up to. They should enroll the children in well organised after school clubs and find other pastimes for them. The homework club used to be very popular in our days. And by the way, these should be heavily subsidised by the government. Parents could be partially responsible for knife crime but not solely.

And very importantly, what role do the British Police have to play in combating knife crime?

Bring back bobbies on the beat, and stop this” chocolate and ice-cream” approach to reproaching these would be killers. Be fair in stop and searches for in targeting the blacks only, they become law haters and this could lead to lawlessness also. When there was an increase in gun crime in London, there was a gun amnesty week. Please have a knife amnesty week also and follow up on this. Recruit loads more Special Constables to help with street policing. The visible presence of police walking the London Streets would psychologically disable some of these teenagers. Revamp the police neighbourhood watch also and encourage residents to be their brothers keepers.

There are many concerned people and groups who are doing their best, even if in little ways, to help alleviate the problems of Knife Crime in London/Britain e.g. Young Disciples in Birmingham. Support them and encourage more of these groups so that our youths are engaged in gainful pastimes.

What can be done to break this vicious circle? This is where I would really appreciate your input.