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The grief-stricken parents want action as England and Wales face one of the worst years for teenage knife killings, with 32 victims in 2021 so far. Archie Beston was killed aged 19 in Kingston-upon-Thames, southwest London, last year and his devastated mum Becky has called on tougher punishments for knife crime.

Becky said: “It should be an automatic five years in jail and life if you take a life.

“The authorities have lost control of the streets and there’s no deterrent.”

Daily Mirror reports Becky and three other grief-stricken mothers are leading the Hard Calls Save Lives ad campaign, which urges people to contact Crimestoppers if they suspect someone of carrying a blade.

Rhamero West, 16, was murdered in Old Trafford, Manchester, last week. Police have launched a manhunt as his killer remains on the run.

People are being urged to call Crimestoppers even if they only suspect someone of carrying a knife, reports My London.

The authorities have lost control of the streets and there’s no deterrent

Becky Beston

Lillian Serunkuma, whose 15-year-old son Quamari, was stabbed to death outside his school in Willesden, northwest London, in 2017, appealed for more preventative measures.

She said: “We need to be proactive and not reactive by getting into schools and working with first-time offenders.”

Yvonne Lawson, who lost son Godwin, 17, when he was killed in Stamford Hill, northeast London, in 2010, said the community has a major role to play in keeping young people safe.

She added: “Don’t think knife crime has nothing to do with you, it’s our problem.”

Jean Foster, 67, whose grown-up son Christopher, 34, was stabbed to death outside a pub in Borough, south London, in 2013, said the initiative aims to deter people from carrying knives and for them to realise the consequences.

She added: “There’s no justice for the victims in the system.”

The mothers were joined by Met Commander Alex Murray at the Home Office meeting with the Crime Minister Kit Malthouse.

Commander Murray said: “If you don’t want to listen to the police, then listen to these mums.”

The worst year for teen knife murders was 2008, with 48.

It fell to 24 in 2013 only to rise, with 39 in 2017, 37 in 2018 and 35 in 2019 – the last year not affected by a fall in violent crime due to lockdowns.

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