Sunderland parents speak out about knife crime impact
Nearly one crime everyday involved a machete on average in the North East last year.
Metro Radio are investigating into the impact of machete crime across the North East.
Our exclusive statistics reveal that there has been a 45% increase in crimes involving a machete in the North East from 2020 to 2023.
Northumbria Police were called to more than 350 crimes involving a machete last year. That’s on average nearly one every single day of the year.
Metro Radio reporter Sophie Green has uncovered the figures and investigated impact it has had on our region.
As part of the investigation, she spoke with Tanya Brown who has experienced the devastating impact of knife crime first-hand.
In 2019 Tanya’s 18-year-old son Connor died after a knife attack while on a night out in Sunderland.
Tanya told us about the moment she found out that Connor had passed away.
She said: “It felt like the walls were just closing in and voices were just echoing.
“I’ve got no idea the concept of the time until the doctor came in and told us that Connor had gone. After that I just remember hearing my own screams.”
Impact of knife crime
“There are no words to describe the impact. There's no way you can measure the impact. It just hurts every single day.
Along with Connor’s Dad Simon they set up the Connor Brown Trust to raise awareness and support victims of violent crime.
They tell us they are doing everything they can to ensure that no other family endures this grief.
Tanya continued to say: “I’d like to think that he’s proud of us for standing up to knife crime and for fighting back against knife crime in his name.
“Connor lost his life at 18 when he had so much more life left in him. He had plans for his future.
“These young people are turning their lives upside down. They are destroying their own lives as well as taking the lives of others with these weapons.”
As part of this investigation, we will be continuing to investigate knife crime.
To read more about the investigation click here.