Can anything be done? Every year, teenagers in Britain lose their lives to knife crime. Actor Idris Elba hopes his new campaign will reduce them dramatically.
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The London rapper calling time on knife crime
Can anything be done? Every year, teenagers in Britain lose their lives to knife crime. Actor Idris Elba hopes his new campaign will reduce them dramatically.
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What's happening?
It was 20 minutes to midnight on New Year's Eve when Harry Pitman died. The 16-year-old and his friends had made his way to the top of a hill in London to watch the fireworks.
But an argument with another group ended with Harry being stabbed to death. Around him, thousands of people continued to party.
Across England and Wales, the police counted 50,833 crimes involving knives in the 12 months up to the middle of last year. They included 230 murders.
Last week the actor Idris ElbaAn English actor, rapper and singer, born in London in 1972. launched a campaignAn organised set of actions to achieve a certain goal. called Don't Stop Your Future.
Elba wants tougherHarder or stronger. measures against people who supply large knives; more youth workers; and politiciansSomeone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country. to come together to end knife crime.
Find out more
Elba thinks more should be done about the social problems that lead to knife crime. London has 700 fewer youth workers than it did 10 years ago.
As part of his campaign, he has made a rap video called Knives Down.
Can anything be done?
Yes! We know about some of the problems that lead to knife crime. We can fight it by giving young people more options for their lives and more hope for the future.
No! This problem has been going on for too long - and nobody has found an answer that really works. It is very hard to stop someone leaving the house with a knife. Then a moment of anger can change everything.
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Keywords
Idris Elba - An English actor, rapper and singer, born in London in 1972.
Campaign - An organised set of actions to achieve a certain goal.
Tougher - Harder or stronger.
Politicians - Someone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country.
The London rapper calling time on knife crime
Disturbing reality: Half of teenagers in England and Wales have witnessed or been victims of violence, study reveals. Glossary
Idris Elba - An English actor, rapper and singer, born in London in 1972.
Campaign - An organised set of actions to achieve a certain goal.
Tougher - Harder or stronger.
Politicians - Someone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country.