Protect us from gangs: what youngsters want

Many have been robbed at knifepoint and some know the victims of stabbings, including those who have lost their lives.

In Edmonton

Marie Bawuba, 13:

"There's been a lot of stabbings in this area and people dying. It makes you scared in case it happens to me or my friends.

"Sometimes I go outside and I hear gunshots and I know there's people carrying knives, so I don't feel safe if I'm not with someone older. I think more police in the areas where bad things are happening will help me feel safer and might stop people carrying knives.

"I also agree there should be lessons in school on respect and knife crime. Schools need to teach kids why it's wrong and they need to do it early before they get involved in gangs."

Pascoti Kayinda, 23, volunteer youth worker:

"When I was younger I was always in trouble, with gangs and drugs and that, but I made a choice to change my life. I had a lot of help from a youth worker and that's why I wanted to follow in his footsteps.

"There's been a lot of killing in London — it's kids killing kids and it's getting ridiculous. There's not a lot of role models out there for them, so they get bad influences from the people around them.

"We need more older role models to show them the way forward. We need more money for youth schemes because I really believe it can make a huge difference."

Ali Koz, 19, student

"My friend Louis Boduka died when he was stabbed in January. I also knew Henry Bolombi, who was killed a few weeks before. It's getting totally out of hand.

"I worry about my family because when these people are walking round with knives everyone's lives are in danger.

"Putting people in jail for five years [for knife offences] will scare people but in one way you're only making the victims more vulnerable because if someone is after them they need the knife to protect themselves. The ones who are doing the killing aren't scared of prison."

Rianna Dixon, 14:

"I don't think anyone should carry a knife. People say it is for protection but it's just an excuse. Obviously in your mind you must be willing to use it and that's how people get stabbed.

"More searches on the streets are a good idea. They should do more searches in school as well. Some people complain the police are giving black people hassle but I like it when the police talk to me because it's safer for everyone when they are around. People my age don't really think prison is scary because they hear of people who stab someone and get out early for good behaviour. It's not always a deterrent."

In Tottenham

Ali Karakus, 18, student

"My 17-year-old friend got stabbed and was in hospital for two months. My parents don't want me to go out after 9pm because they think it's dangerous.

"My family are from Turkey. We came here to better ourselves but London is becoming so dangerous we are thinking of going home."

Salman Korurer, 17, from Enfield:

"There needs to be more police on the streets to make people feel safer. If people are carrying a knife they need to put them in prison — it doesn't matter if it's just a young kid because we have to stop this."

Ricky Sayers, 20, student:

"The police only stop people who look a certain way and we feel discriminated against. I've been arrested — I'm not going to lie, I was done for burglary and all sorts, but I'm on the straight and narrow now.

"There needs to be more discipline for children. You see 13-year-olds on the street at 4am causing havoc. They need to invest more in youth clubs to keep these kids off the streets.

"I think there should be a 9pm curfew for under-16s. It would stop most of the trouble straight away. People wouldn't like it and it might be unfair on kids who are not doing anything wrong, but it would be worth it to stop the killing."

Trung Le, 19, student:

"Someone pulled a knife on me on a bus and tried to rob my phone. It's normal these days, it happens all the time.

"If people are scared they think they need a weapon. It's how people get killed over nothing. Some of these people aren't even scared of prison because they don't have anything to live for.

"If I was back home in Vietnam I wouldn't have the opportunities to study. These people have all the opportunities but they choose to get into gangs and drugs and violence."

Deanna Straker-Griffith, 14, from
Manor House:

"You can't just stop kids in the street and search them. I know my friends think it's racist because they only stop black kids and they only give us grief. It turns people against the police.

"I don't think preachy lessons about knife crime will make any difference. Kids round here know everything already — they've seen people get knifed. People come to our school and try to teach us how bad knives are but kids don't listen."

Abbeygail Critchlow-Morrison, 14,
from Tottenham:

"I know a lot of people who carry knives. I think it's wrong but you can't always say there's no reason. If someone comes for you with a knife then you need a knife to protect yourself."

Laura Carey, 14, from Haringey:

"Lots of my friends have been threatened with knives and it's scary because you never know what's going to happen next. You could get a phone call and someone is dead.

"The police need to be tougher. They need to stop people in the street and search them for knives. But I don't think they should do it in schools. These people would just stay away from school if they thought they would get caught."

In Kilburn

Louis O'Leary, 16:

"When I was 12 someone held me up with a knife. It has made me more wary when I'm out. I thought about carrying a knife for a while. I thought if I had a knife they wouldn't attack me. I'd prefer no one carried knives.

"I don't think these pictures of knife victims will put people off. A lot of boys will think it's cool and these days a lot of kids have seen the real thing."

Jason Hayble, 18:

"I know people who carry knives and some of them have been stabbed.

"I've never carried a knife and I keep well out of trouble. If you're going to fight use your fists. Why are you going to try to take someone's life? It's crazy."

Ashiyr Norris, 14:

"Knife crime is a big problem for kids my age because it makes the streets really dangerous. You never know who's going to be carrying a knife and people are getting hurt and killed all the time.

"I think there should be lessons in school about what it's really like to get stabbed and what it's like going to jail so people will stop and think. A lot of these kids do it because they have nothing to do and get in with the wrong people."

Ramar Roberts, 14:

"One of my friends was shanked last year. He was 13. He was just in the wrong area. He went to Camden and they didn't want him. It's stupid.
"There needs to be more police checking but obviously that's no good if people who are caught get away with it. There needs to be strong sentences. If they are let off lightly they will just laugh at the police and then do it again."