Idris Elba's knife crime protest with clothes for 247 people killed last year

08 January 2024 , 18:55

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Idris Elba said: 'I can't stay silent as more young lives are lost' (Image: Ian Vogler)

Neatly folded clothes representing the 247 people killed through knife crime last year were laid outside Parliament as MPs returned to work.

Actor and musician Idris Elba, who has launched the Don’t Stop Your Future campaign calling for the immediate banning of machetes and so-called zombie knives with the Mirror, stood amongst the garments. The Luther star, 51, said police powers like stop-and-search were not eradicating knife crime as he warned the issue goes “deeper” than that.

"There are hard facts that stop and search may do some help, but it's not eradicating the issue,” he said. "We need to think a little deeper than that. It's not just about stop and search... Some kids are carrying these knives because they're scared and some are carrying knives because it makes them feel more protected. Stop and search will do some work, but we need to kind of pull the onion back a little further and figure out what are the roots of these issues?"

Neatly folded clothes representing the 247 people killed through knife crime last year were laid outside Parliament

Idris is also lobbying for more funding in youth services and releasing a song, Knives Down, in an effort to tackle serious youth violence across the UK. The Don't Stop Your Future campaign has produced a series of billboards highlighting the risk across the country, including in London, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.

Speaking about the campaign, Idris said: "I can't stay silent as more young lives are lost to these brutal and heartless crimes. As school returns, too many young people will not be joining their classmates and too many grieving families have lost a young person they love in recent years. Young people are our future, their potential deserves to be met, not taken away by violence."

Mourners gather at purple-themed vigil to remember girl, 15, stabbed to death

Among those at the campaign's launch was Yemi Hughes, who held clothes her son Andre Aderemi, 19, was wearing when he was stabbed to death in Croydon in 2016.

Downing Street conceded "there is more to do" on tackling knife crime in response to Elba's campaign. Rishi Sunak's spokesman said: "It's important the public understand that knife crime is down 7%, hospital admissions for stabbings are down by nearly a quarter. But, still, we know knife crime devastates lives. We do want to do more. It's welcome that Idris Elba and others continue to shine a light on this important issue."

In August 2023, the Home Office announced tougher measures on machetes and zombie-style knives would be introduced. But progress on passing the new legislation through Parliament has been slow and several high-profile incidents have occurred since, including the killing of schoolgirl Elianne Andam. The 15-year-old was stabbed to death on her way to school in Croydon, south London, in September with what was believed to be a large zombie knife. A 17-year-old boy has been charged with her murder.

Sophie Huskisson