Knives off our streets
'Never carry a knife'
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| CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: Poster designer Lily Golden; Jeanette Singleton, Lewis' mum; and Chief Insp Andy Bottomley. |
SHE has lived through every parent's worst nightmare.
Now the mother of murdered teenager Lewis Singleton has spoken about the impact of knife crime as she joined a campaign to stop people carrying blades.
Jeanette Singleton and her family have spent almost a year trying to come to terms with the death of Lewis who, aged just 18, was stabbed repeatedly as he walked home after a night out.
Speaking to the Daily Echo as the paper launched its joint knife campaign with Southampton police yesterday, she said: "It may be nearly a year but it seems like just a week. I don't think emotionally we have come any further forward as a family and I don't think we ever will. We are just learning to cope with what has happened.
"As a mum I still feel the same as I did the day after it happened. It has ripped our family apart.
"It has touched so many people and that is just one life."
Lewis was knifed as he walked along Obelisk Road in Woolston on March 31 last year. A gang lay in wait in a car and pounced as he walked past.
Last month Rikki Johnson, 19, of Honeysuckle Road, Bassett, was convicted of murder and his co-defendant Sercan Calik, 19, of Burgess Road, Bassett, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Lewis. Harvell Mason, 17, of Saltmead, St Denys, was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter but found guilty of violent disorder. A fourth youth aged 16 was cleared of all charges.
Yesterday the Echo revealed how one in five teenagers had told police that they had carried a knife or a gun on the streets.
The statistics, from a survey of 14-year-olds, was also released as a fresh knife campaign was launched under the force banner of Operation Sharp.
Operation Sharp is an attempt to educate youths through their schools and their communities about the dangers of carrying a blade and also the fact that anyone caught in possession of a knife could be jailed for four years.
Attending the campaign launch at the Civic Centre was Lily Golden, 13, who designed a winning poster carrying the warning messages about knives. Her work can now be seen on the backs of two buses operating in the city. Also present were representatives of the city council and the safe city partnership.
Mrs Singleton said: "Anything that raises awareness of knife crime is a good thing. We need not only to get the message out to youths but parents as well. They need to know where their children are, what they are doing.
"I don't want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It's no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home."
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CommentPosted by: hmm on 9:17am Wed 12 Mar 08
The sort of person who carries a knife is not going to listen to a campaign
Lock them up, no ifs no buts, just zero tolerance
I don't care of the cost for housing them in prison, money spent now on zero tolerance will pay off many times over in the future
The sort of person who carries a knife is not going to listen to a campaign
Lock them up, no ifs no buts, just zero tolerance
I don't care of the cost for housing them in prison, money spent now on zero tolerance will pay off many times over in the future
Posted by: Stuart Dent on 9:32am Wed 12 Mar 08
I haven't read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.
I haven't read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.
Posted by: Denzil, work on 10:05am Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]hmm[/bold] wrote:
The sort of person who carries a knife is not going to listen to a campaign Lock them up, no ifs no buts, just zero tolerance I don't care of the cost for housing them in prison, money spent now on zero tolerance will pay off many times over in the future[/quote] Exactly Hmm, even stopping their benefits won't work because they just steal them anyway. Let the filth lock them up.
hmm wrote:
The sort of person who carries a knife is not going to listen to a campaign Lock them up, no ifs no buts, just zero tolerance I don't care of the cost for housing them in prison, money spent now on zero tolerance will pay off many times over in the future
Exactly Hmm, even stopping their benefits won't work because they just steal them anyway. Let the filth lock them up.
Posted by: marks, Southampton on 10:19am Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Stuart Dent[/bold] wrote:
I haven\\\'t read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.[/quote] Idiot
Stuart Dent wrote:
I haven't read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.
Idiot
Posted by: so, what on 10:23am Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]marks[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Stuart Dent[/bold] wrote: I haven\\\'t read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.[/quote] Idiot[/quote] Justify your comment, or are you the sort just to insult at random, without offering explanation or reasoning.
marks wrote:
Stuart Dent wrote: I haven't read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.
Idiot
Justify your comment, or are you the sort just to insult at random, without offering explanation or reasoning.
Posted by: marks, Southampton on 10:33am Wed 12 Mar 08
Are you telling me that the original post was being serious?!? Stupid post made by a stupid person about a very important issue. Maybe if this happened to someone you know you wouldn't be so flippant
Are you telling me that the original post was being serious?!? Stupid post made by a stupid person about a very important issue. Maybe if this happened to someone you know you wouldn't be so flippant
Posted by: Duh, soton on 10:37am Wed 12 Mar 08
[bold]"I don't want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It's no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home."[/bold]
Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up.
Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I'll go and steal another.
These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day.
Build a new prison, I wouldn't mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it!
The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they're all locked up, we won't need as many Police on the streets.
"I don't want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It's no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home."
Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up.
Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I'll go and steal another.
These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day.
Build a new prison, I wouldn't mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it!
The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they're all locked up, we won't need as many Police on the streets.
Posted by: mrs jones, soton on 11:21am Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Duh[/bold] wrote:
[bold]\"I don\'t want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It\'s no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home.\"[/bold] Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up. Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I\'ll go and steal another. These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day. Build a new prison, I wouldn\'t mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it! The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they\'re all locked up, we won\'t need as many Police on the streets. [/quote] i totley agree ill put a extra fiver in the pot lock them up our council tax dont go no where anyway.
Duh wrote:
\"I don\'t want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It\'s no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home.\" Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up. Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I\'ll go and steal another. These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day. Build a new prison, I wouldn\'t mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it! The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they\'re all locked up, we won\'t need as many Police on the streets.
i totley agree ill put a extra fiver in the pot lock them up our council tax dont go no where anyway.
Posted by: Marquis of Queensbury on 11:45am Wed 12 Mar 08
There needs to be a massive shift in the mentality of our youngsters and their parents.
When kids are going out how many parents are asking where?who with?when will you be home?
Our local councils have a responsibility to provide funding for youth centres and after school clubs to ensure that individuals can socialize purposefully and not feel their only option is to get drunk in the local park or hang around the nearest lit up area(usually the local shops).
Lower income families(the group that seem to be affected the most) simply cannot afford to keep their children busy every night with swimming,judo,dance classes etc etc in order to keep them off the streets.
Our children also need to be taught that their behaviour doesn't need to be so extreme when disagreements arise.
If these kids are intent on falling out with each other - what is wrong with a good old fashion "punch up" culminating with the victor shaking his opponents hand and going their seperate ways?
There needs to be a massive shift in the mentality of our youngsters and their parents.
When kids are going out how many parents are asking where?who with?when will you be home?
Our local councils have a responsibility to provide funding for youth centres and after school clubs to ensure that individuals can socialize purposefully and not feel their only option is to get drunk in the local park or hang around the nearest lit up area(usually the local shops).
Lower income families(the group that seem to be affected the most) simply cannot afford to keep their children busy every night with swimming,judo,dance classes etc etc in order to keep them off the streets.
Our children also need to be taught that their behaviour doesn't need to be so extreme when disagreements arise.
If these kids are intent on falling out with each other - what is wrong with a good old fashion "punch up" culminating with the victor shaking his opponents hand and going their seperate ways?
Posted by: Grrrr, Hampshire on 1:08pm Wed 12 Mar 08
This poor mother is doing everything within her power to stop people carrying knives.
Why can't our Government do something useful and help her? It would be a different story if something happened to one of there children.
We are all fighting a losing battle. We can campaign till the cows come home, but the more we campaign the more the louts will carry on.
They do nothing but laugh at the system because they know they can.
They do not understand education these days. Look at sex education that they put into schools years ago, now we have the highest rate ever of young mothers.
What will it take for the Government to learn? How many people have to lose there lives?
More prisons and bigger sentences is the only answer. Unfortunately this country has got into such a state it is almost impossible to turn it back around.
Any campaign should be aimed at the Government not educating children. It is the government who need educating!!!
This poor mother is doing everything within her power to stop people carrying knives.
Why can't our Government do something useful and help her? It would be a different story if something happened to one of there children.
We are all fighting a losing battle. We can campaign till the cows come home, but the more we campaign the more the louts will carry on.
They do nothing but laugh at the system because they know they can.
They do not understand education these days. Look at sex education that they put into schools years ago, now we have the highest rate ever of young mothers.
What will it take for the Government to learn? How many people have to lose there lives?
More prisons and bigger sentences is the only answer. Unfortunately this country has got into such a state it is almost impossible to turn it back around.
Any campaign should be aimed at the Government not educating children. It is the government who need educating!!!
Posted by: Vanessa, Eastleigh on 2:46pm Wed 12 Mar 08
There is a project aimed at youngsters whilst in full time education of a school its called "The Screwed up Project" you can contact them at Winchester Prison,they will take over your school for the day and show your pupils various short shows of what would happen if they carried on down the wrong road and if they went down the right road. Obviousley the prison officers who do the project do not get paid for it. I think its a great idea and i am myself going to attend one of these days to see how the pupils react to disciplin from a prison officer.So if your childs school could do with an eye opener please contact Winchester Prison. Our love goes to Jen,Terry and family.
There is a project aimed at youngsters whilst in full time education of a school its called "The Screwed up Project" you can contact them at Winchester Prison,they will take over your school for the day and show your pupils various short shows of what would happen if they carried on down the wrong road and if they went down the right road. Obviousley the prison officers who do the project do not get paid for it. I think its a great idea and i am myself going to attend one of these days to see how the pupils react to disciplin from a prison officer.So if your childs school could do with an eye opener please contact Winchester Prison. Our love goes to Jen,Terry and family.
Posted by: carol palfrey, southampton on 4:24pm Wed 12 Mar 08
As a friend of lewis i believe that anything that can be done to educate people to get knives off our streets has to be a positive move. too many innosent lives are lost and it affects so many people. thee is NO excuse for carrying a knife and the quicker people understand this the better, whatever way it is presented. i totally agree with what can be done and personally i dont think prison is a big enough punishment. all my love and encouragement goes out to jenny and family. Knives Ruin Lives. Miss u lewis xxxxxxxxxx
As a friend of lewis i believe that anything that can be done to educate people to get knives off our streets has to be a positive move. too many innosent lives are lost and it affects so many people. thee is NO excuse for carrying a knife and the quicker people understand this the better, whatever way it is presented. i totally agree with what can be done and personally i dont think prison is a big enough punishment. all my love and encouragement goes out to jenny and family. Knives Ruin Lives. Miss u lewis xxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Reality, Somewhere Over The Rainbow on 5:16pm Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Vanessa[/bold] wrote:
There is a project aimed at youngsters whilst in full time education of a school its called "The Screwed up Project" you can contact them at Winchester Prison,they will take over your school for the day and show your pupils various short shows of what would happen if they carried on down the wrong road and if they went down the right road. Obviousley the prison officers who do the project do not get paid for it. I think its a great idea and i am myself going to attend one of these days to see how the pupils react to disciplin from a prison officer.So if your childs school could do with an eye opener please contact Winchester Prison. Our love goes to Jen,Terry and family.[/quote] Great Idea on paper....
But the kids that carry knives would get yet another chance to see there father outside of the jail!
This is where we go wrong, the good kids will listen and take note, but then they were never destined to be a yob.
The down and outs will laugh and be grateful they got to see there Daddy again at school.
I know its easy to sit here and criticise these schemes, but they haven't done any good in the past. I also appreciate that if you throw enough poo eventually some will stick.
But 1 day in a kids life of education isn't enough when they have 18 years being bought up by the dregs of society.
I really wish I could sit here and say well done that will work. But in reality it won't. I sincerely admire people for giving it a go though.
Vanessa wrote:
There is a project aimed at youngsters whilst in full time education of a school its called "The Screwed up Project" you can contact them at Winchester Prison,they will take over your school for the day and show your pupils various short shows of what would happen if they carried on down the wrong road and if they went down the right road. Obviousley the prison officers who do the project do not get paid for it. I think its a great idea and i am myself going to attend one of these days to see how the pupils react to disciplin from a prison officer.So if your childs school could do with an eye opener please contact Winchester Prison. Our love goes to Jen,Terry and family.
Great Idea on paper....
But the kids that carry knives would get yet another chance to see there father outside of the jail!
This is where we go wrong, the good kids will listen and take note, but then they were never destined to be a yob.
The down and outs will laugh and be grateful they got to see there Daddy again at school.
I know its easy to sit here and criticise these schemes, but they haven't done any good in the past. I also appreciate that if you throw enough poo eventually some will stick.
But 1 day in a kids life of education isn't enough when they have 18 years being bought up by the dregs of society.
I really wish I could sit here and say well done that will work. But in reality it won't. I sincerely admire people for giving it a go though.
Posted by: paul b on 6:57pm Wed 12 Mar 08
Lock anyone caught with a knife up for 6 months.
Lock anyone caught with a knife up for 6 months.
Posted by: Hants, Ocean Village on 7:01pm Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
Lock anyone caught with a knife up for 6 months. [/quote] Well, not quite everyone or John Lewis will have to close down the kitchen utensils area!
But I must say I agree these yobs have to learn somehow, the schools can't teach them, the parents can't teach them, the Police can't teach them. So in reality we really have no other option surely?
Unless anyone has a better suggestion?
paul b wrote:
Lock anyone caught with a knife up for 6 months.
Well, not quite everyone or John Lewis will have to close down the kitchen utensils area!
But I must say I agree these yobs have to learn somehow, the schools can't teach them, the parents can't teach them, the Police can't teach them. So in reality we really have no other option surely?
Unless anyone has a better suggestion?
Posted by: decent, soton on 8:07pm Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Duh[/bold] wrote:
[bold]\"I don\'t want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It\'s no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home.\"[/bold] Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up. Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I\'ll go and steal another. These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day. Build a new prison, I wouldn\'t mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it! The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they\'re all locked up, we won\'t need as many Police on the streets. [/quote] ive never heard so much crap in all my life.what planet are you on.Have you got children,if so do you tell them to carry a knife?NO PARENT encourages there children to carry knifes/weapons,no matter what there homelife is like.DO YOU?
Duh wrote:
\"I don\'t want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It\'s no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home.\" Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up. Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I\'ll go and steal another. These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day. Build a new prison, I wouldn\'t mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it! The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they\'re all locked up, we won\'t need as many Police on the streets.
ive never heard so much crap in all my life.what planet are you on.Have you got children,if so do you tell them to carry a knife?NO PARENT encourages there children to carry knifes/weapons,no matter what there homelife is like.DO YOU?
Posted by: Duh, Soton on 8:19pm Wed 12 Mar 08
[quote][bold]decent[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Duh[/bold] wrote: [bold]\"I don\'t want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It\'s no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home.\"[/bold] Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up. Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I\'ll go and steal another. These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day. Build a new prison, I wouldn\'t mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it! The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they\'re all locked up, we won\'t need as many Police on the streets. [/quote] ive never heard so much crap in all my life.what planet are you on.Have you got children,if so do you tell them to carry a knife?NO PARENT encourages there children to carry knifes/weapons,no matter what there homelife is like.DO YOU?[/quote] Are you from the real world?
Do you not see the kids accompanied by the scum parents throughout the day shouting abuse at passers by whilst the parents watch smoking a fag?
Not all kids are the same.
Alot of kids these days are bought up to think carrying a knife is the thing to do and YES some of there parents encourage it!!!!!
How can you say NO PARENT encourages it? Why do so many do it? Have you lived alone all of your life without ever venturing out?
This is the real world where parents and children alike carry Knives, this is why some poor bugger got killed you muppet!
I certainly would not tell my children to carry a knife, if I ever thought they had done so I would drag them down to the Police station myself. But that's because I am a good parent, if only ALL parents were the same.
I suggest Saturday would be a good day, take a seat in Southampton City Centre and watch the parents and kids, you may learn something!
decent wrote:
Duh wrote: \"I don\'t want anyone to go through what we have been through. Tackling knife crime, gun crime, violence on the streets is something we all need to take on. It\'s no good blaming the authorities. It starts at home.\" Quite right it does start at home. The problem is though have you seen the family home of the yobs that carry the knifes? The parents encourage them to do so. These campaigns are a great idea, but totally useless until something is put in place to back it up. Lets say I was a knife yielding yob, the Police stop me and converscate my knife, so what I\'ll go and steal another. These yobs need educating, the only way to educate them is by punishment, there is no point asking the parents to do it, they are probably down the pub all day. Build a new prison, I wouldn\'t mind my Council tax going up by £5 a month to contribute towards it! The prison will pay for itself anyway, once they\'re all locked up, we won\'t need as many Police on the streets.
ive never heard so much crap in all my life.what planet are you on.Have you got children,if so do you tell them to carry a knife?NO PARENT encourages there children to carry knifes/weapons,no matter what there homelife is like.DO YOU?
Are you from the real world?
Do you not see the kids accompanied by the scum parents throughout the day shouting abuse at passers by whilst the parents watch smoking a fag?
Not all kids are the same.
Alot of kids these days are bought up to think carrying a knife is the thing to do and YES some of there parents encourage it!!!!!
How can you say NO PARENT encourages it? Why do so many do it? Have you lived alone all of your life without ever venturing out?
This is the real world where parents and children alike carry Knives, this is why some poor bugger got killed you muppet!
I certainly would not tell my children to carry a knife, if I ever thought they had done so I would drag them down to the Police station myself. But that's because I am a good parent, if only ALL parents were the same.
I suggest Saturday would be a good day, take a seat in Southampton City Centre and watch the parents and kids, you may learn something!
Posted by: ., on 11:07am Mon 17 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Stuart Dent[/bold] wrote:
I haven't read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.[/quote] if you havent got anything to say of importance then dont say it at all.
Stuart Dent wrote:
I haven't read the article but would have thought that there must be exception, say for instance, chefs, butchers, etc. I tend to eat chips which do not necessitate the need for cutlery of any sort.
if you havent got anything to say of importance then dont say it at all.
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