One of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic has been to turn vast swathes of the population into amateur epidemiologists. The R number, the science of mutation and the relative merits of mRNA versus adenovirus vector vaccines have replaced more prosaic topics in conversations all over the country.
I don’t make light of this newly discovered interest in the cause of pandemics because a thorough understanding of a disease is a prerequisite to conquering it.
I am reminded of this every time I walk down Broadwick Street in Soho. There the more observant pedestrian might notice an old-fashioned public water pump from which the handle has been removed. This stands as a monument to another contagion – the 3rd cholera pandemic of the mid-nineteenth century.
Against a backdrop of competing theories, the physician, John Snow, studied the disease pattern amongst the residents and workers in that part of Westminster and recorded the deaths on a street map. From this he observed the correlation between the victims and their consumption of water from the pump. From what today would be called a root cause analysis, Snow deduced that contaminated water from the hydrant contained the germs which caused the sickness.
His solution was to prevent citizens from endangering themselves by drinking the water.
His method was to remove the handle.
A simple antidote to a deadly problem; one based on rigorous analysis of the data of cause and effect combined with firm public action. And Dr Snow became the world’s first epidemiologist paving the way for the rapid development of vaccines which we hope will allow the world to conquer Covid-19.
Today, the capital is faced by an equally destructive epidemic – that of knife crime.
In [2019] the last year for which we have the statistics over [15,000] stabbings were recorded by the police, [125] people died and countless friends and families were devastated by the loss of their loved ones.
As with the Soho cholera outbreak, the theories about the causes behind these dreadful acts abound. What we are lacking are effective solutions. Repeating Dr Snow’s achievement will require data that informs practical measures delivered by communities and their leaders joined in the pursuit of the common good.
I therefore enthusiastically welcome Fighting Knife Crime- London’s commitment to this cause. Providing a single point of access to the knowledge and resources required by citizens to stamp out this 21st century evil is the necessary first step to eradicating this cruel social disease.
If we can beat Covid-19 we must be able to beat knife crime.
