Episode 2: Children in police cells

Episode 1: Conveyor belt justice

In April 2008, frustrated by the I lack of action from government to protect young people from violence, a 16-year-old Ben Kinsella wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to create a society where young people could live “peaceful and safe lives”.

Over the years we have had to deal with violence, complex local political and bureaucratic challenges, gangs and entrenched resentment towards formal institutions from the young people we work with.

Some things move on depressingly slowly. We seem to have been reading books and articles in the press as well as listening to political speeches on this topic for most of my lifetime.

Yes, yes, I get it. Solving knife crime is complex. But I am so tired of reading about kids getting killed. One recent example of several was nine-year-old Lilia Valutyte in Boston. Lilia had her life cut short for no reason anyone could discover.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 has not been without controversy. Critics decry its assault on our basic right to protest.

I have been a criminal defence lawyer for almost 30 years. I have acted for children and young people throughout that time, including in cases of drug trafficking, armed robbery and even murder.

‍On 18 May, the VRU announced new £3million investment in the ENGAGE programme, which involves intervention coaches based in police custody who work to divert young people from violence.

Young people have always fought each other, and violence amongst peers is by no means a new phenomenon. 

Fridays Coventry is a youth initiative I set up to prevent knife crime and gang violence in Coventry. 

Martin Griffiths is a consultant Trauma Surgeon at Bart's Health NHS Trust