Growing knife culture that leads to teen deaths

the scale of youth crime in recent years has prompted fears of a growing knife culture and warnings about a breakdown in values.

In January, 16-year-old Ashley Hedger died after being stabbed in the head by a gang in Upton Park. Several youths have been arrested. In November last year, 14-year-old Luke Walmesley was stabbed to death in a school corridor in a row with a fellow pupil.

In March 2002, Kaiser Osman, 15, was stabbed to death on an estate in Harlesden. A 15-year-old was convicted of the murder while a cousin who was 11 at the time was cleared.

The most notorious schoolboy killing in recent years was the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor in Peckham in November 2000. He was stabbed in the leg with a broken beer bottle and bled to death. Four teenagers were cleared of his murder at the Old Bailey.