Reading schoolboy Olly Stephens remembered
It's two years since his murder
The family and friends of Olly Stephens gathered on the second anniversary of his death to call for change.
Olly Stephens was 13-year’s-old when he was murdered on January 3, 2021 at Bugs Bottom in Emmer Green.
Today family and friends gathered at the Olly Stephens memorial bench at Bugs Bottom to mark the day.
The slain teen’s father Stuart Stephens has been campaigning with Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East to hold social media companies responsible for harmful content shared.
Speaking on working with Mr Rodda, Mr Stephens said:
“He’s been with us from day one, he’s looked after us and is very supportive and has been brilliant.”
On the first anniversary of Olly’s death in 2022 a sombre gathering was held at St Barnabas Church in Evesham Road, Emmer Green.
“Last year there was a service at the church which was brilliant, this year feels a lot harder, we just wanted to keep it close family and friends.
“We didn’t want to impose on the church so we kept it for family and friends.”
Mr Stephens has called for measures in the upcoming Online Safety Bill which would make online companies responsible for removing ‘legal but harmful’ content.
He said: “The Bill will enable legal accountability where there is none at the moment.
“You can say and do and act as you please and there’s no accountability attached to that.
“There’s no legal processes, everything done online is above the law.
“The Bill enables laws to change to clamp down on individuals who are using the internet to groom or bully others.”
Mr Stephens added: “The duty of care is out the window. The social media companies say the right things but there’s a lack of action.
“I get bombarded with adverts and they make blocking things so difficult.
“They make things so convoluted its hard work.
“Also, where are we going to be in 10 years?
“Technology has its uses, but when its being used to abuse people then we need to step up.”
Mr Stephens is also supporting counselling company No. 5 Children’s project to establish the Reading Young People’s Hub as a place for young people to socialise and receive support.
He said: “It’s a national shame that there are no youth clubs for kids.
“The No. 5 Youth Club will be amazing, it would be a club but the staff would back that up with mentoring and counseling.”
In closing, he said: “We miss him, it goes without saying.
“The support we have had from the community has been amazing.
“It’s sad we are here. The Online Safety Bill and campaigning is really where the fight comes from.
“Thank you to the community of Reading and Caversham, they have been outstanding really, I can’t thank them enough.”
The Online Safety Bill will be back for discussion in Parliament on January 16.