Murdered boy's mum hands out letters to Gateshead schoolchildren

Tomasz Oleszak's mother, Kamila Wisniewska, urged pupils not to carry knives

The mother of a murdered schoolboy has written a "powerful" letter to hundreds of children, warning them of the dangers of knife crime.

Kamila Wisniewska's son, Tomasz Oleszak, died after he was stabbed in a Gateshead park last year.

Her letter was handed out to 467 school pupils as part of a Northumbria Police operation tackling serious violence.

In it, she said: "Imagine that the friend who is sitting next to you now is sitting there for the last time."

Teenager Leighton Amies was found guilty of murdering Tomasz and detained for at least 12 years.

Tomasz was a keen footballer

Ms Wisniewska's letter reads: "There is nothing worse and more terrible than losing your own child, your best friend, in such a cruel way as being stabbed.

"Tomasz didn't get a chance, even though he wanted it very much.

"Please take care of yourself and if you see someone behaving badly, talk about it and report it."

Operation Sceptre began on 13 November and saw officers carry out a week-long campaign to take weapons off the streets

They carried out 146 stop and searches, completed 19 weapon sweeps and attended the homes of 81 people suspected of trying to import weapons into the country.

Ch Supt Joanne Park-Simmons thanked Ms Wisniewska "for her powerful contribution".

She said: "As someone who is still grieving and trying to come to terms with the lasting damage knives can cause, I know it will not have been easy for her to write that letter, but her message is loud and clear. Let's all continue to take action and save lives."

Northumbria police officers raiding a property during Operation Sceptre

A total of 142 arrests were made during Operation Sceptre, and 121 items were recovered. These included a machete, kitchen knives, an axe and a crossbow.

Red surrender bins were placed next to police stations and 90 sharp items were disposed of safely.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said the region needed to "get ahead of the problem".

She said: "Kids need to understand that carrying a knife is never the answer.

"Putting the heartbreaking letter written by Kamila, Tomasz's mother, in front of school kids across the region couldn't make that message any clearer.

"The impact of knife crime on individuals, families and the wider community is devastating - it impacts everyone."