An anti-knife crime initiative has seen young people from Tonbridge hearing from relatives of a murdered boy.
A group of six teenagers attended the Ben Kinsella Trust, which aims to steer people away from weapons and violent crime and illustrates the consequences and devastating impact of knife offences.
The visit to the Immersive Choices and Consequences Exhibition, in Islington, took place on Friday 22 March. It was organised by the Tonbridge Community Safety Unit (CSU) and involved young people from the town who had previously come into contact with the police, including those who may have carried a weapon or been involved in a violent incident.
Workshops included several themed rooms, role play, and video testimony from those impacted knife crime. The initiative is set to continue in the coming months and has benefited from funding from the Violence Reduction Unit.
CSU Inspector Terry Newman said:
‘The exhibition tells the tragic story of Ben Kinsella’s murder in 2008, at the age of just 16 and includes powerful inputs from his family and friends. Initiatives such as these provide a unique opportunity to educate young people and hopefully steer then away from violence and further crime.’