Birmingham City Council make knife crime pledge after Leo Ross death

Council leader John Cotton described knife crime as a “national crisis”

Author: Alice Smith / Alexander Brock (LDRS)Published 29th Jan 2025

Birmingham City Council have provided an update on the redesign of its youth services in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing of schoolboy Leo Ross.

Leo, 12, was found with serious injuries near Scribers Lane during the afternoon of Tuesday, January 21. He later died in hospital from his injuries later that day, police said.

Hundreds of emotional families later attended a poignant church vigil the following Sunday, where they lit candles and said prayers.

During a meeting this week, Birmingham council leader John Cotton described knife crime as a “national crisis”.

“Frankly our young people deserve better,” he told the full council meeting. “Of course here in Birmingham, we’ve witnessed the tragic impacts that arise from young people carrying knives all too often.

“We all have a part to play – this city council, the police, schools, parents and communities across the city must continue to work together to tackle this horror.

“I know colleagues within our own services in the Children’s Trust, together with other partners, are committed to doing all they can to end the scourge of knife crime.”

During the meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Waseem Zaffar said the incident had left everyone across the chamber shocked and asked for further information on the council’s proposals for youth services.

Mick Brown, the cabinet member for children, young people and families, responded by describing the stabbing in Hall Green as “an appalling tragedy which has shocked our city”.

“Our thoughts, at this impossibly difficult time, are with everyone who knew and loved Leo,” he added.

On the new youth service model, Coun Brown said: “As you know, we are committed to a redesign of the youth service in Birmingham to make them more reflective of the diverse needs, localities and communities we all live in.”

Asked about the future of the The Lighthouse Youth Centre in particular, he said the redesign divides the city into a ‘four district model’.

“In the case of Lozells, The Lighthouse would be retained as a central facility based in partnership with two outreach units – in this case, Lozells and Oaklands,” he said.

“This district, as with the other three, will have a senior youth worker as well as two designated youth workers and a mix of full-time and part-time youth support workers to cover the three centres.”

The council confirmed earlier this month on January 17 that all youth centres will remain open and will either be retained by itself or partner organisations.

It also said that additional funding was obtained to grow the service, which allowed specialist posts to be built into the new model.

The council continued that these will ensure ‘sustained outcomes’ for young people with SEND and those accessing alternative provision.

“I am currently discussing the model with local MPs and have arranged a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner to brief him,” Coun Brown added.

Earlier this week, a teenage boy appeared before Birmingham Crown Court charged with the murder of Leo Ross.

The boy, 14, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article and assaults.

A plea hearing was set for April 22 while a date for a provisional five-week trial, in Coventry, was set for June 23.

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