An awareness event highlighting the dangers of gun and knife crime took place at the UCKG HelpCentre in Kilburn last Sunday, April 2.

The aim was to help young people from the area gain a better understanding of how to avoid being involved in such activities.

It was organised by the local branch of the Victory Youth Group (VYG) and used drama, song as well as talks by Met police officers to get its message across to an audience of around 130 young people.

Attendees ranged in age from 14 to 27 and were mostly London inner-city kids who have either heard of or know someone who has been involved in risky activities.

The main focus was on how they can avoid falling in with bad company and, more importantly, not to put themselves at risk of conviction simply by being present at a crime scene.

Special guest speakers on the day were Abs Manji and Lucy Baker from the youth engagement team at Kentish Town police station, along with Majorie Musis, an officer in the Trident team.

Trident was formed to tackle black-on-black gun crime and has since been expanded to deal with knife and gang crime.

The messages clearly reached the audience as intended.

One attendee, Jessica Tannor of Kilburn, stated: “It was amazing, the performances were a great way of expressing what young people see all to often and how they view gun and knife crime.

“I believe it opened a lot of youths’ eyes.”

Similar events were held in the UCKG HelpCentres in Finsbury Park, Brixton, Catford and Plaistow, and were also supported by Trident officers and local councillors, and in one instance by the Race Equality Foundation.