Dr Cassandra Popham

The start of 2025 has seen fatal stabbings of young people making headlines across the country. Every child’s life lost is devastating to families and communities. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, it’s crucial to remember that there are concrete actions we can take to address this crisis; and…

Every life lost due to violence is one too many. However, violence isn’t inevitable. Recent data shows there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. In 2022/23 (the latest year we have figures for), hospital admissions for assault with a knife or sharp object were down 9% on the previous year.

The recent tragic deaths of Elianne Andam, Taye Faik, Max Moy Wheatley and Keelen Morris Wong have once again put knife crime on the front pages. These heartbreaking incidents compel us to ask ourselves some difficult questions. Why did these events occur? Could they have been avoided? How can we stop them from happening again? …