These killings must stop, say families of 11 young victims

Families of London’s teenage murder victims today called for a new drive in schools to end the capital’s escalating gang violence.

Parents and relatives of victims killed on London’s streets this year said schools “do not have the resources” to deal with youth crime.

The call came after 19-year-old Marcin Bilaszewski became the 11th teenager to be murdered in London this year; he was stabbed in a row with a stranger in Finsbury Park at the weekend.

Senior police chiefs fear the number of youth murders could come close to the total of two years ago when 30 teenagers were murdered in London.

Today parents of three murdered youngsters told the Standard that more should be done at an early age to combat youth violence.

Primary school teacher Yvonne Lawson, 39, whose 17-year-old son Godwin, an aspiring footballer, was stabbed to death in Hackney in March, said: “I think we need to influence children when they are young so they do not grow up thinking violence is the answer.

“At the moment schools do not have the resources to deal with all these problems. There is too much focus on exams and targets rather than on behavioural problems that lead to violence.”

Munir Mirza’s 18-year-old daughter Aliza died after being stabbed in the throat and chest in Ilford last month as she made her way to a party.

Mr Mirza, 50, a restaurant manager, said: “Schools, police and parents should get together somehow to tackle knife crime culture. Violent crime is not down whatever the police and Boris Johnson think. It’s going up and up everyday.”

Award-winning pupil Agnes Sina-Inakoju, 16, was shot as she stood with a group of friends in a shop in Hoxton.

Her brother Abiodun, 30, said today: “These children are dying too young and others are witnessing things they should never have to see.

“The Government need to do more, but people need to educate their own children and make them realise that it is just not OK to go around killing each other.”

The parents of murdered schoolboy Jimmy Mizen urged political leaders to tackle violence on Britain’s streets.

Speaking at the launch of a personal safety film campaign for schools yesterday, Barry and Margaret Mizen said more must be done.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Schools are often havens of calm, even when the communities they serve are riven with conflict. Schools do everything possible to give young people a stable atmosphere.”

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