'My little Ava was stabbed to death by a child - but we got the life sentence'

03 July 2023 , 19:00

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Ava White (Image: PA)

The mum of tragic Ava White has warned nothing has changed in the fight against knife crime since her ­daughter was stabbed to death nearly two years ago aged 12.

Leeann White has insisted new rules which give police extra powers to search previous offenders for blades do not go far enough as they can only be used on over-18s. Ava was killed by a 14-year-old boy and her mum wants children as young as 12 to be searched for weapons.

Asked if she thought there had been progress in the fight on knife crime, Leeann, 40, said: “I don’t see a difference to be honest. The only thing I have seen is the new stop and searches coming in but again it needs to target younger people.

“It’s younger people who are carrying knives, as well as adults, and we need to be searching at least 12-year-olds.”

New Serious Violence Reduction Orders which let police search known knife offenders are being trialled across four police forces including ­Merseyside, where Ava was killed in November 2021.

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe

Ava, 12, was stabbed to death (Family handout)

Ava's mother Leeann says new rules don't go far enough (CHRIS NEILL)

At the moment officers can stop and search any child or adult they have “reasonable grounds” to believe is carrying a weapon or drugs.

Leeann, from Liverpool, believes if wider stop and search powers had been in place two years ago “maybe Ava would still be here”. But charities such as ­StopWatch, have expressed concerns about such searches on children.

Ava’s family also campaigned to install life-saving bleed packs across the city and want No10 to bring them in over the UK.

Sadly, her case is not unique. Tomasz Oleszak, 14, was stabbed to death by a boy the same age in Gateshead, Tyneside, last October. Khayri McLean, 15, was attacked by two boys aged 15 and 17 in Huddersfield, West Yorks, in September.

On Sunday, Leeann watched a celebrity football match at Marine FC in Crosby in aid of ­anti-blade charities Weapons Down Gloves Up and No More Knives.

They included World Champion boxer Tony Bellew and former Liverpool stars Alan Kennedy and Neil Ruddock.

Ava’s killer, who cannot be named, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 13 years last July.

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