Teen caught carrying knife says youngsters ‘don’t know where to turn for help’

A teenager who was caught with a knife says people his age “can’t get help” which is causing them to commit crime and engage in anti-social behaviour. The youngster, who spoke to Bristol Live on condition of anonymity, was referred to the Empire Fighting Chance boxing organization a few months ago and has since turned his life around.

Judge Saini, who last week sentenced three boys for the fatal stabbing of Kingswood teenager Mikey Roynon at a birthday party last year, said Bristol and surrounding areas were “in the midst of an epidemic of knife crime”. The older brother of Eddie Kinuthia, a 19-year-old who died after being stabbed in July, said “knife crime is like a flower, there are many contributing issues”.

Speaking to Bristol Live, the teenager caught carrying a knife said he believes one of the biggest problems facing young people is school and getting into trouble. He says when schools turn some students away, they can often go down a bad path.

READ MORE: Tragic teenage stabbings ‘could be prevented’, says Bristol teacher who lost pupil to knife crime

READ MORE: Police to melt down dangerous knives taken from Bristol streets

He said: “There are a lot of problems that affect young people and I think the impact that schools have can be a big factor in those who have problems. When young people are suspended or expelled, they end up doing nothing and when they get bored you will have problems.

“I think young people are not treated fairly and when they need help they feel unable to get help. Young people don’t look at it and don’t know there’s help.”

The teenager was sent to Empire Fighting Chance after getting in trouble for carrying a knife, and since then his life has changed for the better. He says the boxing gym offers more than just a fitness class.

“Empire helps me take my mind off the bad stuff and everything has gotten better since then,” he added. The community has given me a chance and makes me feel great both physically and in myself.

“The staff and community here are nice and give you everything you need and treat you with care and make me feel like I matter. Empire is so welcoming.

“It had a big impact on my behavior and now I know I won’t do anything stupid. I feel that young people need more opportunities and need a place to feel part of the community. It helped me tremendously.”

“Services under pressure”

His situation is not an unusual one, unfortunately, as knife murders continue to make headlines here in Bristol and across the UK. Many young people are becoming increasingly isolated as youth clubs come under pressure from funding cuts.

The Together for Change campaign aims to tackle the causes of knife crime and say enough is enough. Bristol Live joined together with other media organizations in Bristol, along with community leaders, charities and activists to create the campaign and make a difference.

Avon and Somerset Police have introduced drop-off points and bins across the city in a bid to get dangerous knives off the streets. A Bristol rapper has called for a jail term of at least five years for anyone caught carrying a knife.

Empire co-founder and CEO Martin Bisp says the gym has been working with more and more young people as time goes on. Last year, 3,400 young people worked with the network of gyms across Bristol and South Wales.

Martin said: “Services like these are under pressure and we’ve got services on demand to make sure young people benefit. It is extremely important for young people to have something like this.

“Empire is designed to empower young people to take control of their lives, programs are designed to give young people what they need. It gives people jobs, it allows some to go back to school, it changes lives.

“Young people need more empathy. Difficult circumstances force hard decisions and sometimes young people are forced to make those bad decisions.

“That’s why there must be more equal opportunities for young people. When we can do that, we can give young people control over their own destiny.”

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