Batley stabbing sparks anti-knife campaign to tackle crime rise

Tanisha Bramwell, 25, who is a former youth worker for Kirklees Council has launched the campaigns #KOKnifeCrime and #PreventGangCulture on social media in response to the murder of 20-year-old Bradley Gledhill, of Heckmondwike, who was stabbed during a fight on Park Croft in Batley, on June 21.

Ms Bramwell said: “I’m setting and building a network of local people group, schools, community leaders and organisations.

“We’re having a meeting via zoom in a few weeks to build data and insight into knife-crime and gang related activity.

“Once we build this from a professional aspect we can then get out into communities and build consultation and gain insight from the community.

“We will then collate that data to pin point statistics on a map to show which areas need physically targeting.”

Since the death of Mr Gledhill, Ms Bramwell has been in regular contact with Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin, who called on parliament to debate on the subject of knife crime.

In response, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons said knife crime as a ‘terrible evil which members on both sides of the house are committed to eradicating’, and spoke about new powers to tackle knife crime.

He said: “This will increase the likelihood of these offenders being stopped and send a strong message that if they insist on carrying a knife they will be punished and will face a custodial sentence.”

Zahir Akbar said: “We liaise closely with schools and mosques, with parents asking us to talk to their kids if they have issues in school.

“Coming from my local area and hearing about rise of knife crime, drug, violence, and gang crime is sad.

“It’s my duty to try and help, which I’ve been doing for many years.”