Coventry Teen Shares Experience of Carrying a Knife in His Community

Coventry: Film star Idris Elba recently learned about knife crime in Coventry. He met a teenager named Jayden, who shared his story in a BBC1 documentary called ‘Our Knife Crime Crisis.’

Jayden started carrying a knife at 12 after a scary incident in a park. He faced a group of 20 people, one of whom had an axe. Since then, he felt he needed a knife for protection.

Now 18, Jayden is part of the ‘Serve’ project by West Midlands Police. This program helps young people like him turn their lives around. He met Idris in a cafe to discuss how the program has helped him regain confidence.

Jayden no longer carries a knife. He admits it was hard to let go, but he knows it’s necessary. He’s still working on his journey but is finding his way.

PC Laura Cutherbertson, who works with Jayden, says the program is rewarding. Many young people carry knives because they feel trapped. The goal is to guide them toward better choices and opportunities.

Through the program, Jayden has joined the Aston Villa FC academy and dreams of becoming a coach. Idris was impressed by the positive impact of the Serve program.

Idris believes there’s hope for young people like Jayden. He wonders if this program can be expanded nationwide. The documentary is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.