Our London hospital-based violence reduction team was prominently featured in a powerful BBC1 documentary last night (29 January 2025), “Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis,” presented by renowned actor Idris Elba.
The hour-long documentary provides an in-depth exploration of knife crime in the UK, giving voice to victims, individuals who have carried knives, and organisations working to tackle this growing issue.
In the programme, our colleague Samir Khattab shares his personal journey of being involved in weapons violence and his current role at The Royal London Hospital, where he supports children and young people to stay safe after their discharge.
Speaking in the documentary, Samir reflects:
“Our intervention offers support by essentially going on a journey with each young person. We’re not just trying to remove knives from their possession; we’re trying to remove them from their heart.”
The St Giles team provides tailored support for 11- to 25-year-olds admitted due to violence-related injuries. They step in during this critical “reachable moment,” offering care in the hospital and follow-up support in the community, helping young people and their families overcome trauma and rebuild their lives.
Samir adds:
“As we continue working with them in the community, that relationship grows. They start to realise: oh, you’re really in my life.”
One of the key themes in the documentary is the importance of trusted adult relationships. For many young people, the ability to turn to a mentor, rather than a weapon, can be life-changing. The programme highlights mentoring as a powerful early-intervention tool, and St Giles’ schools-based mentoring programme is recognised for its role in helping at-risk children and young people before problems escalate.
Our mentors are trained professionals with lived experience of the issues facing the young people they work with. They come from the same communities, understand their lives and become a trusted source of support to ensure the young person and those around them stay safe.
The documentary also showcases the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership’s CIRV (Community Initiative to Reduce Violence) project, which offers young people an opportunity to pursue positive alternatives to violence. St Giles has been proud to partner with CIRV since its inception, supporting young people through this initiative.