GLMCC Anti Knife Crime Campaign
19 April 2019
PRESS RELEASE
GLMCC Anti Knife Crime Campaign
Knife crime is now at an all-time high. For many years, Green Lane Mosque has been working with the West Midlands Police and others on how we can tackle this growing issue. With our knife bank, anti-knife crime advertising and various talks relating to the issue, we have been proactively looking for ways to stem the rising issue of knife crime.
Today, Friday 19th April, we organised a series of events on knife crime:
• 1.30pm – the imam delivered a Friday sermon touching upon knife crime
• 2.15pm – a powerful youth ‘flash mob’ on knife crime, in which around 50 youth lined up outside the mosque and adjacent streets, holding placards with powerful messages to draw attention to the horrific nature of knife crime and its impact
• 8.00pm – A youth workshop in the evening entitled “The Link Up” on the topic of knife crime led by some youth workers
(Since this Friday was a bank holiday we have predicted that there were over 5,000 people in attendance for the Friday sermon)
The aim of these events is to remind people, in particular the youth, about the dangers of carrying a knife.
Why are we doing the events today?
It is shocking to see the increase in knife crime, not just in Birmingham but also across the country. This is a nationwide issue, whether it is London, Manchester, Lancashire or a village like Hale Barns where poor Yousef Makki was stabbed to death.
People are horrified at the number of stabbings here in Birmingham, predominantly amongst the youth.
Fatal stabbings are now at their highest in over 70 years. In addition, those stabbed to death and the suspects are predominantly young men. There has been a 93% rise in the number of under 16’s stabbed over the past five years. All this highlights the crisis in which we now find ourselves. A day does not go by without us hearing of another youth being stabbed or murdered somewhere. The blatant savagery and disregard for human life amongst the youth is extremely worrying.
The youth need to understand the consequences of carrying a knife.
Why is knife crime happening?
It is important that we understand the causes in order to comprehensively address the problem with real preventative measures. There doesn’t appear to be one single reason contributing to this spike in knife crime but a number of factors that have accumulated over time,
• Funding cuts for youth clubs – funding has dried up for youth groups and clubs over the past few years
• Social Media – Certainly, the advancement of social media has meant that things don’t stay in the playground and are instead played out to thousands of people online. This can make the results much worse.
• Media – the glorification of such acts on media, the violence that our kids are exposed to through films, gaming and even music.
• Police budgets cut and resources stretched – The cuts in the police budget has also resulted in less officers on the streets, which must inevitably have a direct correlation.)
• Parenting – Parenting also has major impact. Parents need to get more involved in their children’s lives. They need to know where they are, what they are doing and what friends they are keeping. They need to be aware of mood and character changes in their children. They also need to questioning their kids when they come in late or when they purchase expensive items or clothing for which they have not been given any money. If a child is coming home with £150 trainers for which the parent has not give them the money, they need to be asking questions.
Why do young men feel the need to carry knives?
Violence in today’s world seems to stream through the various facets of our lives in all guises. Whether its music videos, movies or video games promoting weapons and violence, we seem to be oblivious to the way violence is portrayed all around us. Films rated 18 in my day are now given a 15 rating in today’s world.
The rise in social media and the part it plays in the world of the youth may also be contributing to the environment by promoting and normalising the imagery of carrying a knife. Social media also exacerbates arguments that would previously be played out with some fisty-cuffs in the playground. Arguments are now routinely played out in front of huge audiences, creating the pressure to take more drastic action to protect the social image that the young have created of themselves.
Overall, knives have become far too acceptable amongst the youth. I was reading in the paper how some youth, in light of recent incidents, now feel compelled to carry knives in order to protect themselves. So the fear itself is feeding the problem.
Are cuts to frontline policing to blame?
At Green Lane Mosque, we work very closely with West Midlands Police and we are acutely aware of the policing cuts over the past few years. Officer numbers have been cut right back to the bone and we are now feeling the pain. The police are much less visible on the streets than they were a few years ago. Many comment on how they only see the Police when they are speeding past in their cars on blue lights responding to emergencies.
We do need to start listening to our guys on the ground, who are already stretched and now having to deal with the fallout. We need to be asking them about the support they need and the right numbers to police our streets. Many, like Lord Hogan-Howe, have already argued the urgent need for greater officer recruitment.
However, as mentioned earlier, this doesn’t appear to he the sole factor but is certainly a major one. Other factors being mentioned are the cutbacks in youth workers and youth clubs. These were safe places where the young could occupy their time and speak to youth workers who could empathise with them and provide some advice and guidance. Such places are almost non-existent.
Are the current laws strong enough to deter teenagers from being caught with a knife?
There is a need to increase ‘stop and search’ amongst children and young adults but many of us are also old enough to remember when such tools were used in the past and the community disharmony it caused. And although the police has moved on from the ‘institutionalised’ racism that it suffered from in the past, we need to ensure that these tools aren’t perceived by the public as a means to stigmatise a particular minority. That would only cause more issues. This is not a black or ethnic community problem so we need to ensure that these tools are used fairly and proportionately in the communities.
People have spoken about harsher sentences but this may not necessarily make a difference. Most youth around the country aren’t even aware of the sentences or consequences. So there is an educational side to this.
Should tougher penalties be introduced to try and deter young people from carrying weapons?
We do need to do more and we all have a part to play. Whether that is at the macro level through government law and policy or whether it’s at a more micro level through community and other groups, we all have a part to play. Religious institutes like ours, mosques, gurdwaras, churches, synagogues and others all have a role in this. These should essentially be institutes of learning and education – particularly for the youth. Morals and values need to be communicated to the young so they can understand the consequences of their actions and the realities of knife crime.
In Islam, we are very clear about this. The Qur’an explicitly states:
“Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he has saved all mankind.” (Qur’an, 5:32)
Education is our strongest tool.
What are we doing at Green Lane Mosque?
Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre is working with the West Midlands Police and others on how we can tackle this growing issue. With our knife bank, anti-knife crime advertising and various talks relating to the issue, we have been proactively looking for ways to stem the rising issue of knife crime.
• In terms of our knife bank here at the centre, over the past two years, seven knives and one gun have been deposited there, which is a relatively small number compared to other places. We installed it in conjunction with the police, because this is a place where people do gather and it is seen as a safe spot.
• We have started a street watch team, which is operated alongside the West Midlands police. Our mosque team is one of many such groups that help in supporting the police and providing an additional presence in the community. The street watch team volunteers go out into their community and try and monitor and report on any causes for concern, such as anti-social behaviour. In light of the recent incidents over the past couple of months, we’ve carried out a number of joint patrols with the Police to increase visibility in the community.
• We intend to do more events like today – events to remind people, in particular the youth, about the dangers and impact of carrying a knife.
END
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
20 Green Lane
Birmingham, B9 5DB
Tel: 0121 713 0080
Email: info@www.greenlanemasjid.org
