Faron Paul, a charity founder and stabbing survivor, collects weapons from London’s youth, while Home Secretary James Cleverly proposes medals for police bravery in the face of violent attacks. Both aim to enhance safety and challenge the city’s knife crime issue.
Faron Paul, a stabbing survivor, has founded the charity FazAmnesty to combat the proliferation of weapons in London. Paul, who once survived an attack involving 18 stab wounds, collects harmful weapons such as knives, axes, guns, and swords from youths, offering them an anonymous means to dispose of these items safely. His initiative has garnered support from public figures, including actor Idris Elba. Paul’s work recently led him to Hertfordshire, where he collected a ceremonial Gurkha knife from an individual. Alongside his charitable work, Paul is considering a future mayoral run in London to continue his advocacy against knife violence.
Simultaneously, Home Secretary James Cleverly has proposed that police officers be awarded medals for bravery following a sword attack in a London suburb that resulted in serious injuries to two officers. In light of this, Cleverly is advocating for enhanced recognition of police courage, and has pledged to collaborate with police forces to ensure deserving officers are honoured. Moreover, he has reiterated the government’s commitment to combating knife crime through the introduction of legislation that increases the police’s authority to confiscate and destroy bladed weapons. This follows a report from the Home Office stating that 138,000 weapons have already been removed from public access through enforcement actions like stop and search. These measures are part of broader efforts to reduce violent crime and protect communities and law enforcement personnel in England and Wales.
