London Met hosts newsweek panel to address crime and violence issue in the city
Date: 05 February 2025
The United Kingdom – and London in particular – is becoming an increasingly frightening place, with rising concerns over robbery, violence, and knife crime. In some areas, even something as simple as having a beer in a pub can become an activity one has to think twice about before venturing out.
That’s why London Metropolitan University’s Journalism course recently held a newsweek panel to raise awareness and educate people in the local area about knife crime, stressing the importance not just dealing with knife crime after it happens, but taking steps to prevent it happening in the first place.
Panelists included Shaun Pascal, a detective constable from the Metropolitan Police; Sue Hedges, a bereaved mother and activist whose son was fatally stabbed in 2016; Patrick Green, the CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, and Stefan Brown, the CEO of SOKBKOOS (Stop Our Kids from Being Killed on Our Streets).
The topics discussed during the panel were varied and covered different aspects of the issue. One point raised was the importance of rebuilding communities to resemble those in the recent past, when mothers kept an eye on all the neighbourhood children.
Sue Hedges emphasized the importance of education and kindness from an early age. “I believe that we should start from the beginning when our children are still young and mouldable,” she said.
Stefan Brown compared knife crime to cancer, stating, “If you don’t address it in time and treat it, it will spread like oil.”
A spreading violence
The spread of knife crime is difficult to grasp. For a time, gang violence seemed to be contained within rival groups, but now, more frequently, innocent people are being attacked by unknown perpetrators—people simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Hedges’ son was one such victim, trying to stop a robbery when he was tragically killed after trying to stop the theft of a moped from the front drive of his family home in east London. He was just 27 years old.
Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, explained that gang leaders act like psychologists, identifying vulnerable young people and exploiting them. “They see a boy or young man who needs money or support, and in exchange for some small tasks, they offer protection.”
How does criminality grow?
Several factors contribute to the challenges faced by young people today, including a lack of education, poverty, inequality, mental health issues, and substance abuse.
Many young individuals are also threatened by gangs that exploit them for money, sex, or violence. Additionally, the rise of cybercrime and political instability exacerbates the problem.
During the discussion, Shaun Pascal highlighted another contributing factor: the media’s glorification of crime. He pointed out that young people today are increasingly exposed to violence through social media, which affects their perception of the world around them.
How should we stop It?
All panellists agreed that knife crime must be tackled through investment in education and job creation, strengthening family and community support, and improving law enforcement and the justice system. On this matter, Constable Pascal, who has worked in the Metropolitan Police for more than 20 years, stated that the government should implement stronger police enforcement, with a more constant presence in some boroughs known to be particularly challenging.
Green stressed the need for more visible police officers on the streets, increased engagement with young people, more funding for creative spaces, and greater investment in the future.
Hedges added, “It took me a long time to navigate the system and gain access to schools. The reality is that young people need safe spaces to feel happy and supported. Children as young as 10 or 11 are smart and understand these issues.”
Brown emphasised that addressing knife crime is a community-wide effort, not a race-related issue. “It’s about taking kids and showing them that they can become lawyers or pursue other careers, but education must start from day one.” When asked whether stop and search practices were necessary, he gave an unequivocal yes – but added that police methods need improvement.
The discussion highlighted the urgent need for collaborative action to prevent further loss of life and to create safer communities for future generations.
By Beatrice Morandi and Tehreem Zahra, third-year BA Journalism students. For more information on journalism courses at London Met, please visit the course pages.
Interviews on knife crime
