Murdered teen's family join knife crime crackdown

Actor and knife crime campaigner Idris Elba joined Sir Keir Starmer (right), experts and victims' families on Monday

The parents of a murdered teenager said they felt "encouraged" by the government's new plans to tackle knife crime.

Emma and Phil Dix, whose son Joe was fatally stabbed in Norwich, were invited to Downing Street alongside Hollywood star and knife crime campaigner Idris Elba to the first meeting of a coalition to tackle the issue.

They were also joined by police leaders and technology companies at Monday's summit aimed at halving knife crime over the next decade.

"They had different phases of the plan to aim towards and it was the consequences and sanctions of having knives; the legislation of knives and how they're sold," said Mrs Dix.

"A big part of it that I believe we can have an impact on is the child criminal exploitation side of it.

"Joe was exploited from the age of 14 and couldn't get out of it and that's what our charity is to do with."

Phil and Emma Dix said they were encouraged by the government's 10-year plan to clamp down on knife crime

Mr and Mrs Dix hoped The Joe Dix Foundation - which they set up after their son's drugs-related murder in 2022 - could also help shape a new 'Young Futures programme' to help identify and intervene in cases where children were getting caught up in knife crime.

It could include educating primary school-aged children on the dangers of knife crime.

Joe Dix died in hospital after being chased and stabbed in 2022

The coalition will meet annually and bring together politicians, subject experts, campaign groups, families of people who have been killed by knives and young people who have been affected by it.

Mrs Dix said she spoke to both Sir Keir and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about children being exploited by criminal gangs.

"It's a long-term plan - we're happy to be part of it," she said.

"All children are vulnerable and, actually, Joe didn't tick any of the boxes of vulnerabilities - it's really important for us to keep getting that message across.

"We don't want to be in this situation - we would rather have had a normal life and Joe here, so it's a constant battle for us."