TWENTY knife killings in one year as murder rate doubles in 36 months
Murders involving knives in the West Midlands doubled in three years to TWENTY in a year – as an appeal is launched for people to report on friends and family carrying blades.
The victims include 24-year-old Ryan Passey, eight-year-old Mylee Billingham,11-year-old Jasmine Forrester and 19-year-old Reagan Asbury.
West Midlands Police has revealed there were 20 knife murders in 2017/18, up from 18 in 2016/17 and 10 in 2016/16.
And today, Crimestoppers launched a hotline for the public to report on people carrying blades.
The charity is also working with Wolverhampton Homes on introducing vinyl posters to be pasted on pavements in the city from the Autumn, promoting the move.
Pauline Hadley, West Midlands regional manager for the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Knife crime leaves families devastated and communities traumatised.
"Sadly too many young people believe that carrying a knife will help protect them from danger. This is simply not true.
"If you carry a knife, you are far more likely to end up being injured, or worse still, losing your life.
“If people are worried about a friend or relative who you understand is resorting to taking a knife with them, they can pass on that information 100 per cent anonymously.”
Possession increase
In total, there were 2,845 recorded knife-related offences in the West Midlands in 2017/18.
This was up from 2016/17, when there were 2,389, and 2015/16, when there were 2,037.
And the number of knife possessions also rose, from 699 in 2015/16 to 1,808 in 2017/18.
Superintendent Ian Parnell said work was being done to deter people from carrying weapons.
He said: “The people we find most often in possession of a knife in public are young men aged between 15 and 19.
"A common excuse we hear is that it’s for their ‘protection’ – but that is a total fallacy.”
Victims
Ryan Passey died after being stabbed in the former Chicago’s nightclub in Stourbridge in August 2017. But student Kobe Murray, aged 19, was cleared of his manslaughter.
Mylee Billingham died from a stab wound at her father’s home in Brownhills on January 20. Father William Billingham, 54, of Valley View, denies murder.
Jasmine Forrester died after being found with serious head injuries at a house in Kent Road in Wolverhampton on February 9.
Uncle Delroy Forrester, 51, of Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, denies murder.
Reagan Asbury died after being stabbed in the neck following a boxing match at Walsall Town Hall on October 14.
Tyrone Andrew, 21, of St Helen’s Street, Derby, is being tried for his murder. He denies the charge.
Anyone wanting to report a person carrying a knife call call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
