Regretfully, in the past days London has been again the theatre of numerous knife crimes targeting young people by youths themselves. The fact that more than 10 youths were attacked and stabbed dead in less than one week is a big tragedy for London society, while police duties and security are being seriously questioned.
When considering the age of victims and their murderers, sadly we realize that, on one side they are almost teenagers whose life conditions in London prove particularly unsafe. On the other side, however, the crucial question we should ask ourselves is why, despite the massive security measures and CCTVs put in place, particularly in the last times, London face this terrible recrudescence of brutal violence.
I think these crimes should be interpreted as a special alarm for London policy makers and well as the overall society. In order to be effective in cutting this phenomenon, the call for revision of the security system in London, must take into consideration and incorporating in its approach the deep crises of values affecting the young populations, a much wider phenomenon then London and the UK, but reaching other European countries and the rest of the world.
Values as “respect” and “belonging” should be highlighted and reaffirmed in educational and awareness campaigns and activities aiming at non-violent communication, especially among the youths, inducing them to express themselves and their aggressiveness in a different and positive way. It goes without saying that measures to restrict the use of knife among young people, can accompany and facilitate a tailor made educational and informative process in which all sections and levels of population should be involved in tandem with the Mayor of London.
In addition, the overwhelming bombarding of knife crime news in the media can incite forms of imitations both in London and overall UK if radical actions to curb this scourge at its root are not taken in the proper way and timing.
When considering the age of victims and their murderers, sadly we realize that, on one side they are almost teenagers whose life conditions in London prove particularly unsafe. On the other side, however, the crucial question we should ask ourselves is why, despite the massive security measures and CCTVs put in place, particularly in the last times, London face this terrible recrudescence of brutal violence.
I think these crimes should be interpreted as a special alarm for London policy makers and well as the overall society. In order to be effective in cutting this phenomenon, the call for revision of the security system in London, must take into consideration and incorporating in its approach the deep crises of values affecting the young populations, a much wider phenomenon then London and the UK, but reaching other European countries and the rest of the world.
Values as “respect” and “belonging” should be highlighted and reaffirmed in educational and awareness campaigns and activities aiming at non-violent communication, especially among the youths, inducing them to express themselves and their aggressiveness in a different and positive way. It goes without saying that measures to restrict the use of knife among young people, can accompany and facilitate a tailor made educational and informative process in which all sections and levels of population should be involved in tandem with the Mayor of London.
In addition, the overwhelming bombarding of knife crime news in the media can incite forms of imitations both in London and overall UK if radical actions to curb this scourge at its root are not taken in the proper way and timing.
