Over the weekend two families have been left by the loss of their teenage children in stabbing attacks as new figures show a 93% increase in the number of young people targeted by knives.
Police have said Jodie Chesney, 17, suffered from a single stab wound to the back by a teenage attack who struck without saying a word as she sat in a park with friends. Jodie died on Friday evening at around 9.25pm in St Neot’s Road in Harold Hill, Romford. She died one hour after the unprovoked attack.
On Saturday evening policed named a teenager murdered on Saturday evening as Yousef Ghaleb Makki, 17, from Manchester. Two boys aged 17 remain in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder. The murder is not believed to be related to gang activity or organised crime.
Det Supt Phil Reade said: “Yousef’s family has understandably been left devastated by his death and the thoughts of the entire investigation team remain with them at this difficult time.”
“We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was walking or driving in the vicinity of Gorse Bank Road or Sunbank Lane at around 6:30pm. These people may not realise it but they could hold vital information to assist the investigation and help Yousef’s family get the answers they deserve.”
The home secretary, Sajid Javid, will this week will have a meeting with police chiefs to discuss knife crime. In a statement he said: “Young people are being murdered across the country and it can’t go on.
“We’re taking action on many fronts and I’ll be meeting police chiefs this week to hear what more can be done.”
Homicides using a knife committed by those 18 or under used a knife rose by 77% in the last two years. Rape and sexual offences where a knife was used by someone aged 18 or under rose by 38% to a total of 46, and robbery offences where a knife was used rose by over 50%, to 999 crimes.
Data from the NHS showed in the last five years the number of children aged 16 and under being treated for assault by a knife or other sharp object rose by 93% from 180 admissions in 2012/2013 to 347 in 2017/18.
Lord Hogan-Howe said: “It’s important to focus attention on the exploitation of children in socially deprived areas. We need to increase police numbers in these areas and reduce the drug supply into the UK and its distribution including by county lines. Something law enforcement and government have failed to do.”
The Home Office said it set out a range of actions to tackle violent crime in October. They include a £200m youth endowment fund.
