January 2020 starts with stabbings highlighting the crime crisis across the capital. 

Louis Johnson, 16, was fatally attacked on Monday at East Croydon station, a 16-year-old boy has since been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody.

In a tribute, Louis' grandfather and brother said he was a "shy boy who kept himself to himself", stories like this are showing the extent of the problem and how it can truly effect anyone anywhere. The most shocking part is that tragedies like this have become the normal in Croydon, another part of everyday life.

Everyday activities such as going to school or getting a train like Louis Johns have become feared. Arguably this fear has now caused more teens to carry a knife in case they face any sort of confrontation.

While the reasoning behind stabbings and crime can not be summed up in one sentence, it is evident that the lack of youth centers, services and policing within the capital have left much of the youth susceptible to violence and gang culture.

Data from The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime shows there were 167 knife attacks which resulted in injury in Croydon in 2019. Data like this clearly shows the issue however it does not show the further effects these attacks have on friends, families, the community.

The MP for Croydon Central, Sarah Jones, has been avidly campaigning to decrease knife crime in croydon as well as wider London. Although she admits knife crime in Croydon is decreasing, the Labour MP has called for the Government to do more.

In a statement regarding the loss of Louis Johnson, Jones explained "Overall, knife offences in Croydon are now falling, but yesterday's tragedy shows we still have so far to go. One horrific murder like this can wipe away so much progress putting our community back into a cycle of fear."

A cycle of fear caused by crime central Croydon. If anything can come of the hundreds of deaths in the borough it will be the end of this vicious cycle young people and the community are facing.

Young people are the future with a whole life ahead. Dreams, hopes, ambitions are shattering for more and more young people who are having their future stolen at the hand of a knife.

Change needs to happen, and it starts with saving our youth.

-Shania McNally, Reigate College