Youth violence, knife crime, and violence against women were the key issues highlighted by Greenwich people in an assembly ahead of next month’s council elections.

Young people shared stories of being victims in youth violence to councillors to drive home the importance of bringing down violent crime in the borough.

An assembly was held by the Greenwich Citizens community group at Halley Academy to bring up what issues residents felt were the most important.

Labour councillor David Gardner and leader of the opposition Matt Hartley attended to listen to accounts of what they felt were the most important issues.

In the wake of a knife attack outside Woolwich Arsenal station, 30 different people came forward to tell their personal stories with many of them highlighting the important of safer neighbourhoods.

Councillor Matt Hartley said the stories told on that evening were “shocking” and left an impact on him.

Speaking to News Shopper he said: “There were some really incredible, impressive and brave young people who shared their stories about what it’s important to make neighbourhoods safer.

“In both knife crime and violence against women and girls, we had quite shocking personal testimonies that no person should have to go through – it was very powerful.”

Both cllr Hartley and cllr Gardner committed to taking part in a community walk in the less safe areas of the borough to understand the problems facing young people.

Paulina Tamborrel, from Greenwich Citizens, said: “The evening marked the beginning of an open dialog with our local councillors as we enter a new political term.

“Despite the weight of some of the topics discussed, the evening carried a light-hearted and celebratory tone, as the citizens thanked councillors for their dedication to implement the London Living Wage incentive scheme for all organisations in Greenwich which has seen pay rises for over 700 people in our borough.”