'This is a crisis, we need to be screaming it now' - Idris Elba on his battle to end knife crime
'This is a crisis, we need to be screaming it now' - Idris Elba on his battle to end knife crime
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In 2019, Idris Elba decided he could no longer remain silent on the subject of knife crime. The actor had seen a news story about a teenage girl being stabbed to death in an East London park and it prompted him to make an impassioned video in which he urged young men to put down their knives.
Six years on, knife crime is still rising - with four people a week losing their lives to it - and Idris has become heavily involved in trying to find solutions. While the challenges of the task make him frustrated and emotional at times, he remains driven by optimism that positive change is possible. The Luther star, and dad of three, says he’s entered the “noisy” phase of his campaign, which is why he’s made a hard-hitting BBC documentary to highlight the problems and flag some potential answers.
On the day we meet, he has watched the finished film for the first time, and admits it made him weep. There’s no denying that the stark facts and warnings make it a tough watch, but it also contains success stories in which youngsters are helped to turn away from knives with the help of mentors, schemes and interventions. He is hoping it might galvanise some viewers into action. “I wouldn't mind a big old debate,” he says. “We need to be screaming it now - this is a call to action. This is an opportunity to really look at the slices of perspective on offer. Some you will agree with, some of you won't, but at least get engaged.”.
As ever, finance is a key issue and he and other campaigners were left disappointed when there was no increase to youth funding offered in the current budget. “Needless to say, without funding, without real focus, it's going to get worse,” he sighs. But spending the cash that IS available wisely is also crucial. “We live in a data-driven world and there are stats that tell you this works, that doesn't work. Let's really look at that and figure out if we’re spending the money in the right place.”.
