More than 100 people under the age of 25 have been stabbed in Croydon in the past 12 months (to the start of November).
This is a 21 per cent increase on the previous year, with victims of four of the five fatal stabbings in Croydon this year also being under 25.
Now Crystal Palace Football Club is trying to do something to stop the violence.
At the recent home game against Watford, the club used its fan zone to help promote the Choose campaign, which is aimed at making young people think about the choices they have – and the consequences of carrying a blade.
This included anti-knife crime rap songs from Music Relief Foundation (a group working with 11-19 year olds), young people from the council’s Choose Your Future campaign sharing their personal experiences of carrying a knife.
Councillor Hamida Ali said knife crime was an issue that needs to be discussed.
“We know from our work with young people that they want to talk about the issues around knife crime," she said.
“Involving young people across the borough in this conversation is crucial in tackling the perceptions some of our young people have that they are safer if they carry a knife – when the reality is only the reverse.”
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