Olly Stephens trial: Children and knives
We talked to a leading anti-knife charity formed out of a similar tragedy
Last updated 27th Jul 2021
One of the shocking truths that emerged from the Olly Stephens trial was the young age at which many of those involved in the case had become interested in knives.
Teenagers carrying knives is not a new phenomena but children as young as twelve (or even eleven) sharing pictures of knives in group chats, owning them, and sharing photos and videos on social media showing themselves posing with the weapons was a disturbing element of this tragic case.
"I'm shocked it's hard not to be shocked when you see the ages of all those involved in this case" says Patrick Green, the CEO of the anti-knife charity the Ben Kinsella Trust, "however it doesn't come as a surprise around this age is a very influential time for young people it's a time when they are very vulnerable."
In a statement after the verdicts Olly's family said "Today is a sad day, so many young lives and the lives of their families have been devastated by this callous and cold-hearted act. Knife crime needs to stop. "
Ben Kinsella
The Ben Kinsella Trust was founded in 2008 after the tragic stabbing to death of 16-year-old Ben Kinsella in north London.
Ben had been out at a local pub to celebrate the end of his GCSEs with his friends. On their way home, he and his friends realised they were being followed by three older teenagers. Scared and worried, they decided to run home.
But the older teenagers chased after them. They were seeking revenge for an altercation in the club that had taken place earlier that evening. Ben and his friends had absolutely nothing to do with the altercations, but when the older boys caught up with Ben, in an entirely unprovoked attack, they stabbed him to death.
Out of that tragedy the charity was created with a mission to educate young people on the dangers of knife crime and help them to make positive choices to stay safe.
Social Media
Social media was at the centre of the Olly Stephens tragedy, it was where knives were discussed and where some of the children used knives to create images or personas of themselves. Add to this the constant immature trading of insults and you had a volatile mix.
Patrick says social media companies need to take more responsibility for publishing photographs of children with knives: "You rarely sit in a Crown Court these days particularly in a knife crime case where social media isn't involved, it is just devastating to think these are companies with massive amounts of money they have a real connection with young people through their branding and yet they are not doing enough to stop it."
The Trust is also concerned at how children can get hold of knives "it's incredibly easy to go online and buy a concealed knife whether it's disguised as a lipstick, a credit card or a comb", Patrick continues "they're pocket money prices as well and it will probably get through customs and be delivered to you by a courier who will not even ask for age verification."
"Don't believe the supposed stereotypes around this, this is something that can happen to any child".
Conversation
Patrick says it's important to talk to children about carrying knives as early as possible "It's very rare a young person suddenly decides to carry a knife suddenly decides to head to the kitchen and put a knife in their school bag and head off to school this is something that happens over a period of time this is learnt behaviour reinforced by the peer group, maybe the negative peer group they're involved with, and it's those conversations earlier that can detect that level of thinking."
He adds "as this case shows knife crime affects families, it affects friends, it affects communities and the legacy lasts forever helping young people grasp the reality of that helps them understand the importance of making positive life choices and seeing knife crime for what it is - myths and lies about carrying knives."
The Ben Kinsella Trust has a guide for parents to help them have a constructive conversation with their children about the subject, with Patrick adding "Don't believe the supposed stereotypes around this, this is something that can happen to any child. The important thing for parents is to talk to young people, and continually talk to young people, our experience is that they respond very favourably to this conversation."
The guide for parents is available here: https://benkinsella.org.uk/resources-for-parents/