Member of Parliament for Burton, Kate Griffiths, has recently met with Street Whyze Project Founder, Danny Mondesir, to discuss local knife crime and to see how they might be able to work together to tackle this issue following a spate of local incidents.
Street Whyze Project is an educational delivery and consultancy service for schools and youth groups, specialising in violence reduction, knife crime, and mentoring initiatives. Danny started the project in December 2021 after seeing news of a number of knife crime incidents locally. As a Burton resident, he decided to use experience gained from providing successful interventions around knife crime and violence in the West Midlands to help address the problem within the community.
The local MP was keen to meet with Danny following her interventions in Parliament for a multi-agency approach to tackling knife crime. A multi-agency solution would include not just the police, but schools, colleges, the health service and educational services like those offered by Street Whyze, to educate young people and curb knife crime.
During their meeting, the two community leaders discussed possible interventions and strategies to tackle the causes of knife crime and how young people can be supported away from a ‘vicious circle’ that leads them to want to carry a weapon in the first place.
This year, police funding is set to increase by an above in inflation amount of £1.1bn. Following recent discussions in Burton with the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, Ms Griffiths is clear that the Government’s top priority is ensuring this money is spent on tackling crime and delivering safer streets for our communities.
Commenting, Kate Griffiths MP said:
“It was really good to meet with Danny from the Street Whyze Project in Burton to discuss the pressing issue of knife crime locally. What we have seen recently has been tragic with several young people losing their lives as a devastating result of a small minority’s perceived need to carry a knife.
“Danny’s determination and passion to do something about this issue and to ensure young people are properly educated is an objective I share. I will continue to work with, and bring organisations together, as part of a multi-agency approach, including with valuable social projects like Street Whyze, to tackle this issue.
In addition, the further funding Staffordshire will receive this year for policing is welcome and I will be speaking with our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams, to see how this funding can be tailored and utilised to meet the needs of Burton and Uttoxeter.”
Project Founder, Danny Mondesir, added:
“Following Kate raising the issue of knife crime in Parliament recently, I wanted to meet with her to discuss what we could do together and what she might be able to do as our MP. Knife crime is costing lives and it is important that all aspects of society come together to ensure no young person’s life is cruelly cut short.
“Together, Kate and I will be looking at what proactive interventions can be put in place especially for young people who may be susceptible to becoming part of this issue.”
