´óÏó´«Ã½

« Previous | Main | Next »

Why I met young men jailed for a knife

Post categories:

Raphael Rowe | 00:01 UK time, Monday, 12 January 2009

I doubt anyone in this country failed to hear about the number of teenagers who died last year after being stabbed by other teenagers using a knife.

were reported to have died, 23 of those in , but the official figures are still to be released.

No surprise then that the declared knife crime its .

National newspapers like and started campaigns and petitions.

Politicians also moved up a gear and the Government took any opportunity to explain what they were doing. As part of their, they invested millions in shock advertisement campaigns, including posters showing severed fingers and gaping wounds.

Much was reported about why there was a problem and what needed to be done. There was even some controversy about whether white knife victims received more media attention than black victims.

Former teenage gang members and many other practitioners and volunteers were consulted and quoted.

As I followed the reports it was the families of victims, who always gave the most compelling and emotional opinion and that made me question what more could be done.
Mary the mother of a 15 year old girl stabbed to death by a 17 year old girl wanted to meet her daughters' murderer. She told me she had forgiven her but wanted to ask her why she did it.

And that got me thinking...

I first approached the with a request to visit young knife offenders in the summer of 2008. At the time I wanted to make a programme to show other teenagers where they will end up if they carry or use a knife.

A few months later, just as I was beginning to feel the opportunity to get some answers for the families of some victims was going to be a tough door to open, the Ministry of Justice agreed to allow us to interview young knife offenders in their prison cells.

Once inside I found it tough.

I sat on the bed of a teenager serving life for killing another kid, hearing him explain why it happened; what he thinks would stop others picking up a knife; how sorry he is for what he's done and how now he has to face the consequences.

These knife killers and offenders offered a rare but important insight into how to deal with knife crime. They told me those caught with a knife should go to prison. In the programme they said it is the only way to teach them and others carrying a knife or using a knife is wrong.

But one of the questions they could not answer was how they were going to survive serving a long prison sentence. Some of the offenders I met during the initial meeting were serving minimum 15 to 25 years for their offence.

One of the boys told me he was 18 and wouldn't get out until he was in his mid thirties. He wondered how he would cope locked in a confined space for all those years; not being able to walk to the shop, do simple things like open a door for himself as prison gates and cell doors do not have handles, just locks.

The tragedy is that these offenders only truly realized the price they would pay for carrying a knife, after they went to prison. By then it was too late for them and the families of victims, as one offender recognized:

"To be honest I could say I'm sorry, but sorry's not gonna bring their son back...I can say sorry and I mean I'm sorry like for the boy's parents and his family coz now they've got one less person at the Christmas table, but sorry's not gonna bring their son back. I know, I know personally they're not gonna wanna hear, I know that, there's nothing more I can say. I am sorry but who's gonna wanna believe that."

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Hi Raphael,
    It is a complete tragedy what is happening to these teenagers. It is an even bigger tragedy that as a society we seriously lack the will to examine what has gone wrong and why these deaths keep occuring.

    Whenever these deaths happen and I'm sorry they will keep happening, we get the same recycled platitudes and advertising campaigns from politicians, newspapers etc stating how terrible the situation has become.

    What we never get is a real discussion and examination of the issues, a grown up discourse that might help us understand the complex nature of the problem and maybe, just maybe enable us to come up with real solutions. We try and impose adult labels and solutions to a group who do not have the emotional intelligence to comprehend their actions. Does anyone seriously believe that youngsters at the outset understand and comprehend that the consequence of them carrying a knife might be a long stay at one of our maj's fine hotels and what that experience will be. Does anyone seriously listen to these youngsters? Do we even care?

    We fail both the victims and perpetrators when we pin knife crime on a group of young feral teenagers roaming our streets. I know this as I used to be one of these teenagers, I have gone from a hoodie wearing (before Tory politicians decided what we needed was a hug), knife wielding gun toting teenager to what I hope is a productive and responsible member of society. The difference in my life between now and then is like night and day and my solution wasn't as complicated as might be imagined. Imparting my experience to these and others in the belief that they can harness and channel their potential into something meaningful has now become my life's work and I have had some notable succeses. It can be done, change is possible.

    The paradox is that the same society that is failing these youngsters is the same society with the power to radically alter and transform their lives.

    Prison isn't the answer, It is a bankrupt philosophy and always will be. The rising prison population proves that. These matter(s) deserves serious attention and commitment. Who is willing to make a stand?

    P.S
    A personal message for you. Our paths crossed a long time ago in Maidstone. It is great to see you using the platform you now have to raise these issues.

  • Comment number 2.

    Prison will work.
    Its just the pathetic excuse for a justice system in this country are too concerned with criminals 'human rights' to punish these killing scumbags.

    carry a knife - 5 years no parole

    use a knife - 10 years no parole

    use a knife and murder - minimum 25 years

  • Comment number 3.

    Hi Raphael

    Just wanted you to know that you are an inspiration to me. You've achieved so much. I work on a community radio station, listened to by young people - those in danger of being victims or perpetrators of violent crime. We would dearly love to have you on the show.

    That goes for you too promises1. We'd love to have you on the show. Shout me back if this is at all possible!

Ìý

´óÏó´«Ã½ iD

´óÏó´«Ã½ navigation

´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.