A statement from council leader Peray Ahmet follows the murders of Jonah Ho-Shue and Harry Pitman

Haringey Council have expressed support for an anti-knife crime campaign spearheaded by prolific actor and rapper Idris Elba.

The new campaign ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ was launched by Idris earlier this week and calls for government action to combat knife crime affecting communities across the UK.

A statement released by the council on Tuesday (9th January) came after the two separate murders of Jonah Ho-Shue (aged 24) and Harry Pitman (aged 16).

In the statement council leader Peray Ahmet said: “As the tragic events of the last couple of weeks have reminded us, knife crime has a devastating impact on our communities, especially the friends and families of those whose lives are tragically cut short.

“We continue to do all we can to tackle knife violence. This includes working in partnership with the police, investing in CCTV infrastructure, and engaging with young people through our network of youth hubs, which play a vital role in steering young people away from crime and connecting them with positive opportunities.

“But there is only so much we can do as a local authority to tackle this national issue, which is why we welcome Idris Elba’s intervention and fully support his call for the government to regulate the sale of the most dangerous knives and reverse cuts to youth services across the country.

“One life lost to knife crime is one too many. We remain committed to working with our partners and communities to tackle this senseless violence and keep our residents safe.”

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