Redbridge Violence

A man is fighting for his life after suffering a severe injury in an attack on Tuesday 21st July around 1.15am. Police are treating the incident as attempted murder and are are seeking a Black or Asian man aged between 25 and 35, with a distinctive top, featuring horizontal hoops. He was seen running away form the scene of the crime along Francis Road (by Topal Foods) and over a footbridge leading to Jaffe Road. Anyone with information should call Det Sgt Andrew Osbourne on 020 8345 2732.

On Monday 20th July two groups of more than 100 youths had to be restrained by Police with dogs on Clements Road to the fore of Cineworld. Blame is being laid on Bollywood Bowl who held a Private party without the correct level of Security Door Supervisors.

This week and last week two of the other boys involved in the fatal stabbing of teenager Nabeer Bakurally in November last year. The young men Kalam Kazi and Abdul Siddique both from Ilford - have been protesting their innocence. Evidence has been stacked against them in the form of text messages and CCTV film that suggests their collusion and involvement in the murder. The two of them could face life sentences.

Anger and violence seems to be a pervading social malaise it is with great regret that I read local papers and read of another life lost or a victim put in hospital. I am all for rehabilitation (people deserve a second chance), however I do believe that sentences do not reflect the serious nature of some crimes. Whilst their is grey area and a limp stance against violent crime I cannot see anything changing.

My proposed solution:

Rehabilitation is a necessary and effective measure in reducing recurrence of crime, however, why aren't victims, their families and other primary witnesses such as the police or doctors, who have to cope with the aftermath of violent crime, utilised in the rehabilitation process. I agree the most hardened criminals may not be touched by the emotive responses received from such witnesses, however discussion groups with these people may affect some change in the minds of these perpetrators of crime. A fund should be allocated to support such initiative. This fund should expand into the wider use of these witnesses - funding school and society based presentations and discussion groups to deter young impressionable minds from falling into the trap that antisocial behaviour, knife crime and drugs can induce.

Please share your thoughts...?