'Progress is being made to stop youth knife crime'

Idris Elba says youth violence "is a crisis"

Idris Elba has said tackling serious youth violence is a marathon, not a sprint and progress is "moving in the right direction".

In January, the 52-year-old Luther actor launched a campaign calling for an immediate ban on machetes and so-called zombie knives.

He also met Sir Keir Starmer in September to launch a new anti-knife crime coalition.

To celebrate the progress made this year, Elba has opened a Christmas pop-up in Shoreditch with his initiative Don't Stop Your Future (DSYF), which works with community grassroots organisations in a bid to end knife crime.

Speaking at the pop-up in the Truman Brewery, he said: "We've had really key moments throughout the year, the pinnacle being having real large conversations with Keir Starmer.

"We're moving in the right direction. It is a long marathon. It's not a sprint. But quite frankly, we've got our point across I think this is a crisis for our country.

"We think we need joined-up thinking around it and I think we're getting this slowly."

The festive pop-up will run until 15 December.

It features a 'pay what you can' barber as well as serving mulled wine and mince pies.

Funds raised will go towards the DSYF project, grassroots and youth organisations as well as charities who all focus on tackling serious youth violence.

Elba is fronting a BBC documentary next year about knife crime where he discusses solutions with the King and the Prime Minister.

In the hour-long programme, which has the working title of Idris Elba: A Year Of Knife Crime, the actor meets young offenders, bereaved families, youth workers and the police.