Empowering the Community

Empowering the Community to Eradicate Knife Crime In 2022

The recent chronic spate of horrific knife crimes that is taking place in London has left children and parents feeling traumatised and living in fear for their safety. Too many lives are being affected and It doesn’t end with the victims. Parents, like myself included, cannot rest because we fear that when our children leave the house, they might not come back home.

We thought the spate of knife crimes that took place during 2008 where 5 young people lost their lives was a traumatic experience that Edmonton residents would not have to relive. Unfortunately, this started all over again in the beginning of 2019 .Below is the timeline of the various knife incidents that took place commencing in January 2019 .

11 January 2019

Police were called to Edmonton Bus Station at 6.56pm on Friday, January 11 following reports of a fight. “Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a 17-year-old with stab injuries. ( For Further Information https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/enfieldstabbing-london-knife-crime-17144614 )

24 January 2019

On Thursday January 24 2019 Officers were called at 5.28pm In April 2019 five people were randomly attacked leaving one paralysed after his spinal cord was severed in the attack. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandlondon-47783349) In June 2019 a man was stabbed to his chest outside Edmonton Green Shopping Centre. For further information: https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/ edmonton-stabbing-man-fighting-life-16436334

August 2019 Sunday August 4 a young man was stabbed in Edmonton after group of men demanded his bike. For further information https://www.mylondon.news/news/northlondon-news/london-knife-crime-young-man-16698310

September 2019

Sunday 15 September, I went jogging in Jubilee Park, the area was cornered off due to a murder that took place on Saturday. Later on in the day, I was totally shocked and distressed to learn that it was a young man that I knew well. It hit home because this was someone I knew personally and admired. He was hard working and had been employed as a cleaner for over 10 years at Edmonton Green Market. His mother still lives in Portugal and he was responsible for all her medical bills, so he was focused and driven. He was contributing to the community he lived and worked in. He was helping his mother. This is a life cut too short and many more will be affected. He will never be able to call his mother or visit her again. She has lost the support she had.

In September 2021

Four young people were stabbed in Edmonton Green Bus station a few yards from where 21K Digital Media Hub is located. Fortunately the victims survived and recovered. It’s unacceptble that the Edmonton community must live feeling anxiety, fear for themselves and their children, restrictions for their outdoors activities and the quality of life for residents. ‘Straight Outta Edmonton’ has a vital role to discuss issues that are affecting young people and to support them to reach their full potential. We cannot leave the responsibility to the Metropolitan police, Politicians or Enfield Council Crime Prevention Unit to tackle knife crime in Edmonton. Knife crime is a complex issue and one of them is the severe deprivation that Edmonton residents experience where many young people have left school and never had a job, A platform is needed to tackle knife crime effectively. In Edmonton there needs to be a joined-up approach between the local community, Enfield Council, Local Councillors ,Greater London Authority and the Metropolitan Police working in collaboration to eradicate the knife crimes that have recently been taking place in Edmonton. Therefore, ‘Straight Outta Edmonton’ will be a platform for young people and adults to share the positive light of Edmonton. which has a rich history. Research needs to be done to assist the unemployed into employment or an apprenticeship. Edmonton has many talented young people and they must not be made to feel isolated having no future to look forward to.

If you would like to support the ‘Stratight Outta Edmonton’ project to continue to provide a platform for young people where they have a voice and receive pre-employment training, become employable or start their own business, please contact hello@21kdigitalmedia.com