‘My son was stabbed to death after being groomed – I’ve lost faith in the system’
The grieving mum of a teenager who was stabbed to death said she expects ‘nothing to change’ as the government announces new reforms.
Just this week, a double stabbing at Kingsbury High School in Brent, London, left two boys aged 12 and 13 seriously injured. A 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Last year Kelyan Bokassa, 14, boarded a bus in Woolwich where he was stabbed 27 times, crying out ‘I want my mum’ before collapsing and dying.
In September 2024, Daejaun Campbell cried out ‘I’m 15, don’t let me die’ after he was ambushed and killed in Woolwich.
Now the government want to bring in tough new measures to stop teenagers from falling deeper into gang exploitation, and idiolising a life of criminality.
But victims of those who have been killed say not only have they ‘lost faith’, but think the strategy does not go far enough to punish those who commit the attacks.
What is the government’s new strategy?
Any child caught carrying a knife, will now be given a mandatory specialised plan to help stop reoffending as part of a £320 million funding package for the Youth Justice Services.
The hope is these plans will address the root causes of what drives a child to knife crime, including child exploitation and the easy financial incentives being in a gang can bring.
If the child does not engage with the plan, they are at risk of a more punitive strategy, which can include jail time.
Speaking with Metro, policing minister Sarah Jones said: ‘Every single knife attack is horrific.
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‘Coming from Croydon, I knew of a boy who was stopped and searched and he was caught with a knife, but there was not much action taken afterwards.
‘A few years later, he was stabbed to death.’
‘I have absolutely lost faith’
Jodian Taylor, the mum of Daejaun Campbell, who was stabbed to death in September 2024 after being groomed by drug dealers, said the new plan was ‘merely soundbites’.
She told Metro: ‘I went to social services when it became clear my son was being groomed. My son’s killer was known to the police, he had stabbed two people before.
‘But still nothing was done, where were his probation officers? What would be done differently this time?’
Daejaun was at the scene of a fight, trying to deescalate tensions, when he was fatally stabbed.
He had been groomed into a gang where he was being exploited by older members who were involved in drug distribution, luring him with promises of cash.
Jodian said she believes mandatory mentoring in schools would have helped her son, especially if it starts before turning to knives.
She added if someone is then found with a knife, more punitive actions will be taken.
She said: ‘We need mentoring before they turn to carrying knives, so when you do catch them with one, there is no excuse.
‘Get ankle monitors on offenders. Gangs do not want anyone with them if they are tagged. And if something does happen, they can track them.’
‘You can force attendance, but you can’t force cooperation’
There are fears the new mandatory mentoring will also lead to more ‘repurcussions’ within London’s gangs.
Mark Anthony, who runs Project Lifeline, said young people will go to the sessions but not open up due to the threats they face for snitching.
He told Metro: ‘The penalty for not carrying a knife, outweighs the penalty for being found with one.
How many people were murdered with a knife last year?
In the year ending March 2025, there were 205 murders involving a knife or a sharp instrument in England and Wales.
Some 52 of these were aged under 25. And 14 of these were aged under 16.
There were 15 incidents of machetes used in the murders, and 95 incidents where kitchen knives were used.
Zombie knives were also used in two of the incidents.
‘These boys are fearing for their lives. They will not happily put down their knives when there is someone out there, with a knife, looking for them.’
‘You can force them to go to the sessions but they won’t open up unless you address the safeguarding issues first.’
Project Lifeline helps with conflict mediation within the community, which Mark says needs to be solved first before moving onto tackling the root causes.
Young gang members approach Mark in strict confidence, telling them they are at risk of being killed to help solve the dispute.
He said: ‘We approach the person who they fear will attack them, and help the two resolve their issues as best we can.
‘Once you take away their safety fears, young people start opening up. But if you don’t do that first, expect silence.’
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