The heart-breaking stories of Nottinghamshire families ripped apart by knife crime will be added to an award-winning museum workshop. Family members who have had loved ones taken away by knife attacks will share their devastation through a series of videos at the National Justice Museum’s Choices and Consequences workshop, in High Pavement, Lace Market.
Julie Jones, mum of 17-year-old Ezekiel Clarke, who was killed in an attack in Radford in February 2020, is one of the parents featured in the videos. She said: “We’re families, we’re in pain and it’s awful. It’s a horrible feeling. I know grieving is grieving but they weren’t ill, they weren’t sick, they lost their life through somebody’s choice.
“Somebody made a decision to do that, and if they’d not they’d probably still be here today - living their life and having fun.” Lisa Kilkenny, whose 16-year-old son Joseph Whitchurch, from Stapleford, was killed in 2020, added: “If a knife is produced, there is somebody not going home. Broken bones mend, but to have this. It’s just a devastating effect.”
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The 'Nottingham Space' includes accounts from the families and friends of Byron Griffin, 22, of East Leake, who died in Ilkeston in 2021; Joseph Whitchurch, 16, of Stapleford, who died in 2020; Ezekiel Clarke, 17, of Radford, who died in 2020; Lyrico Steede, 17, of Bulwell, who died in 2018; Johnny Parker, 43, of Hyson Green, who died in 2015; Joshua Bradley, 19, of Bilborough, who died in 2015; and Nathan Somers, 19, of Newark, who died in 2012.
The expansion of the National Justice Museum’s Choices and Consequences workshop is part of a partnership between Nottinghamshire Police, Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry, her Violence Reduction Unit, and the National Justice Museum. Ms Henry said: “Hearing first-hand what it is like to lose a loved one to knife crime really makes you stop and think what it would mean to you if such a devastating incident happened to one of your family members.
“The young people came from different areas of Nottinghamshire and their deaths have had a profound rippling impact in their families, friendship groups and communities. It is so important that we funded this here because these are local Nottinghamshire stories - you may have seen the headlines but this is the impact knife crime has on families.
“We all have a responsibility to pull together to look at knife crime, talk about what is happening and take action to prevent more knife-related deaths. I am proud to support this new workshop which I am sure will help get people talking about what they can do to help reduce this terrible issue, and I look forward to hearing from people what they can do and what they think we need to do.”
The National Justice Museum partnered with The Ben Kinsella Trust in June 2019 to open Choices and Consequences, a two-hour knife crime prevention workshop based in the Museum’s Victorian police station. It tells the story of Ben Kinsella, who was tragically killed in 2008 aged just 16, and is a vehicle to encourage local young people to think about the consequences of carrying a knife and the choices they can make to avoid becoming impacted by violence.
The Nottingham Space, which will take the opportunity to tell more local stories, is set to open for schools and young people in December. Gill Brailey, director of learning at the National Justice Museum, said: “We are incredibly grateful to these families for sharing their experiences with us to create this space. Choices and Consequences has been proven to change attitudes around carrying knives and being able to these local stories will encourage young people to realise there are devastating consequences to deciding to pick up a weapon.”
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