‘My son was stabbed to death after being groomed – I’ve lost faith in the system’

The grieving mum of a teenager who was stabbed to death said she expects ‘nothing to change’ after the government announced new reforms to tackle knife crime.

Children caught carrying a knife by police could soon have mentoring sessions to steer them aware from falling into knife crime and could also be forced to stay in education or training under the plans.

Offenders will still be charged in the first instance if it is the most appropriate course of action, the Ministry of Justice said.

But Jodian Taylor, the mum of Daejaun Campbell, who was stabbed to death in September 2024 after being groomed by drug dealers, said the new plan was ‘merely soundbites’.

She said children need mentoring before they’re caught with knives – not after – and if someone is then found with a knife, more punitive actions should be taken.

Jodian told Metro: ‘I went to social services when it became clear my son was being groomed. My son’s killer was known to the police, he had stabbed two people before.

‘But still nothing was done, where were his probation officers? What would be done differently this time?’

He had been groomed into selling drugs for a gang where he was being exploited by older members, luring him with promises of cash.

Jodian said she believes mandatory mentoring in schools would have helped her son, especially if it starts before turning to knives.

She said: ‘We need mentoring before they turn to carrying knives, so when you do catch them with one, there is no excuse.

‘Get ankle monitors on offenders. Gangs do not want anyone with them if they are tagged. And if something does happen, they can track them.’

The government’s announcement comes after two teenage boys were left seriously injured after being stabbed at Kingsbury High School in Brent, London, earlier this week. A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder.

This afternoon, the 15-year-old boy who stabbed 12-year-old Leo Ross to death in a random attack last January was unmasked as Kian Moulton.

Under the government’s new strategy, it wants to stop teenagers from falling deeper into gang exploitation, and idiolising a life of criminality.

Any child caught carrying a knife, will now be given a mandatory specialised plan to help stop reoffending as part of a £320 million funding package for the Youth Justice Services.

The hope is these plans will address the root causes of what drives a child to knife crime, including child exploitation and the easy financial incentives being in a gang can bring.

If the child does not engage with the plan, they are at risk of a more punitive strategy, which can include jail time.

Speaking with Metro, policing minister Sarah Jones said: ‘Every single knife attack is horrific.

‘Coming from Croydon, I knew of a boy who was stopped and searched and he was caught with a knife, but there was not much action taken afterwards.

‘A few years later, he was stabbed to death.’

There are fears the new mandatory mentoring will also lead to more ‘repurcussions’ within London’s gangs.

Mark Anthony, who runs Project Lifeline, said young people will go to the sessions but not open up due to the threats they face for snitching.

He told Metro: ‘The penalty for not carrying a knife, outweighs the penalty for being found with one.

‘These boys are fearing for their lives. They will not happily put down their knives when there is someone out there, with a knife, looking for them.’

‘You can force them to go to the sessions but they won’t open up unless you address the safeguarding issues first.’

Project Lifeline helps with conflict mediation within the community, which Mark says needs to be solved first before moving onto tackling the root causes.

Young gang members approach Mark in strict confidence, telling them they are at risk of being killed to help solve the dispute.

He said: ‘We approach the person who they fear will attack them, and help the two resolve their issues as best we can.

‘Once you take away their safety fears, young people start opening up. But if you don’t do that first, expect silence.’

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