This 8th Edition of FKCL’s magazine engages a broad range of perspectives. We have a government minister, and 6 other experts whose understanding of the issues should really start to engage the minds of those who hold the power to support real societal change.
We start with a piece from Allen Davis, A trustee of Growing against Violence whose brilliant work with multi-disciplinary, cross profession partnership seeks to prevent violence and exploitation by working in schools across years 6-10. We commend this work. This chimes in well with our next piece from Rt Hon Chris Philp MP, Home Office Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire who whilst repeating a familiar criminal justice approach, recognises that it is local partners in the community, in healthcare, policing and education, that guide at-risk children away from crime with workshops, therapy and sports. He says that these partnerships have prevented an estimated 136,000 violent offences in England and Wales.
Our next piece stays at the sharp end of reality. Johnny Bolderson, senior manager at Catch22 for County Lines support and Rescue service who analyses some issues surrounding County Lines and the issue of abandonment that makes too many young people a target for exploitation.
Next, we have Anthony Olaseinde, aka ‘Big Ant’, the CEO of Always and Alternative, a well-known and highly respected figure in Sheffield whose crusade there is making a huge mark. As he says, education is his way of trying to get thorough to young people, but he likes to find alternative ways to engage them. This could be with arts, exhibitions, performing arts, media and indeed anything to try and get through to that one young person that needs support. I recommend a read. We all have much to learn from him.
Next Adam Ballard, youth intervention specialist with ‘Gloves not Gunz’ inspires us with the work he does with young people on the edge. He tells us how he uses sport to divert young people away from carrying and using weapons, and he brings considerable and empathetic understanding to why a lack of purpose drives young people towards dangerous lifestyles.
Our penultimate article is from Adam Hawksbee and Shivani Menon from UK Onward Trust who look at some of the evidence and solutions to violent crime, and how crime is symptomatic of wider socio-economic challenges, all of which are important to any politician who is serious about ‘levelling up’. High poverty rates, health, and education deprivation, crumbling public services, and fragmented families are mutually reinforcing challenges which produce a complex web of issues that collectively and independently contributed to rising crime.
Finally, we have a detailed a thoughtful and nuanced explanation from Michael Railton, an ex-police officer, now a director of ContexKey, and an expert witness in the field of Urban Gangs. This piece covers gangs, drill music, social media, and youth violence. At FKCL, we hope this sparks some healthy controversy. As someone who has spent a life working closely in criminal courts at every level, I know only to well how carefully one must examine assumptions about influences that are said to lead to criminal actions. This article recognises that. Michael also appears in an interesting examination of this subject on BBC3 called ‘Drill on Trial” which you can find here.
FKCL is now over 2 years old. We hope you find we have tried to live up to our original ambitions. Our active partnerships continue to grow and flourish. We are grateful to all have supported us and have helped us to learn and grow. Our only desire is to provide the best resource of informed information, opinion, and assistance to help all young people, whilst working in fullest collaboration for the benefit and welfare of all Londoners.
Bruce Houlder
Founder of Fighting Knife Crime London (FKCL)
