Former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella has released an emotional plea to end knife crime after her brother Ben was killed in a devastating stabbing 15 years ago.
The 39-year-old has said that the murder of her brother Ben, who had been out celebrating the end of his GCSEs when he was killed, “continues to devastate our family”.
Now, as part of Knife Crime Awareness Week, Brooke, who helped launch the Ben Kinsella Trust, has issued an emotional statement showing the devastating consequences of knife crime.
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She said: “15 years ago, my brother Ben was tragically stolen from us by the senseless act of knife violence.
“His loss continues to devastate our family, fuelling our determination to eradicate knife crime and prevent other families from enduring the pain we have experienced.
“I am acutely aware of the impact that knife crime has on our communities.
“Every day, we hear stories of young lives ended too soon, and families left devastated by the senseless violence that surrounds us.
“It is not just the physical harm that is inflicted, but the emotional trauma that lingers long after the incident has passed.”
Brooke said she is particularly worried that more and more people are not given custodial sentences for carrying knives.
She said: “It is really disturbing to see figures detailing how so many habitual knife carriers are not receiving the harshest punishment – prison.
(Image: WireImage)
“We need to send a clear message that carrying a knife is not OK. Yet each year more and more people appear to be escaping custodial sentences. It puts many people in needless danger.”
She vowed: “I will never give up campaigning to stop knife crime.
“This is why I am proud to be part of Knife Crime Awareness Week, which is an important initiative that seeks to educate and engage communities in the fight against knife crime.
“By coming together and raising awareness, we can create a safer environment for our young people and work towards a future free from the devastating impact of knife violence.”
Brooke’s brother Ben had been just 16 when he was killed on June 29, 2008 while he was enjoying a night out to celebrate the end of his GCSEs.
(Image: Collect Unknown)
On his way home, he and his friends realised they were being followed by three older teenagers, so decided to run home.
However the older group took chase, seeking revenge for an earlier altercation which Ben and his friends had no part of.
Tragically, when the older group caught up with Ben they stabbed him, completely unprovoked, and he sadly lost his life.
Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, warned: “The system is broken. Victims are being let down. Public safety is being compromised.
“We’ve definitely seen an increase in the use of non custodial outcomes and suspended sentences. But Covid has played its part too.
“Courts are not sitting and this created a backlog of cases. Add to this underinvestment in our courts and you have a perfect storm.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
