So, I visited a drill music recording studio in Birmingham, where Daniel, 27, shared about teenagers carrying knives. This city’s gang violence history goes back decades and now younger folks are into postcode wars over drugs and territory. Daniel, who has scars from being stabbed and shot, started carrying a knife for protection at 14. He was in prison and now mentors teens to avoid street crimes, but they’re drawn in by the allure of making money, not boring nine-to-fives. Devontae, 19, witnessed fatal stabbings and thinks it’s becoming a generational problem that might get worse. William, now 23, started carrying a knife at 13 after being stabbed in a fight, since he believes in protection. Rachel Warren, who founded Birmingham Says No after her son was robbed at knifepoint, knows that solving knife crime is far from being realistic. The government aims to reduce knife crime by half in a decade, but the lack of youth services and funding makes it harder for local authorities to tackle the issue. Not really sure why this matters, but it’s clear that the impact of knife crime is devastating for families and communities. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like tougher enforcement and stronger prevention are needed to tackle this issue.
