Pair helping to reduce Swindon knife crime as boy, 13, hands in blade

Danyelle King (left) and Jordan Turner (right) founders of Change Lives - No to Knives

Knife crime has become an increasing problem in Swindon, with 198 knife crimes in the town last year.

Jordan Turner's life was changed forever when her brother was killed two years ago. Jordan and her friend Danyelle King are now trying to influence teenagers to make better choices.

"It's emotional because they're babies," grandmother Danyelle said after a 13-year-old boy handed in a knife to them.

Jordan added: "Hopefully he'll sleep better tonight and we'll sleep better knowing that we've got it off of him."

Danyelle, 44, and Jordan, 30, set up Change Lives - No to Knives to mentor teens in Swindon and remove potential weapons, such as kitchen knives during amnesties.

Jordan's brother, Lee Turner, 33, died of a single stab wound to his chest in October 2021.

Treyvon Ejiogu, 18, was found not guilty of murder but did admit possessing a blade and drugs offences. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years.

The case motivated Jordan and Danyelle to push for change.

Lee Turner died on a playing field in the Pinehurst area of Swindon

The pair look at the two knives that have just been handed in by the 13-year-old and his friend.

It's an emotional moment for the pair.

"This is how knife carriers start," Danyelle said, as she unravelled the kitchen knives wrapped in a plastic bag.

"These are two everyday, easy accessible, knives that these two individuals have got from either their home or someone's home," Jordan continued.

Police figures show that in Swindon there were 147 knife crimes in 2019. This went up to 198 in 2022.

Jordan Turner with her brother Lee who was stabbed and killed in 2021

The knives were handed to Danyelle and Jordan by a teen the pair have been mentoring over the last five months.

"He completely shocked us because he brought someone else with him who also wanted to give in their knife," Danyelle said.

"I'm just so proud that two people trusted their lives with me and Jordan."

Danyelle urged parents and guardians to "monitor your everyday kitchen knives because it's so easy" for teens to pick them up.

For Jordan, whose brother was killed with a kitchen knife, the problem is the damage even small blades can do.

"If I can prevent a child, mother or sibling going through what we've been through as a family I'll do everything in my power," she said.

"I'm so proud of the two boys that gave their knives to us and I'll always be there to support them further."

Jordan said they wanted more backing for their efforts

Jordan added: "Sometimes it feels like you're not getting anywhere.

"But when they eventually hand over their knife, you know you've got somewhere with them."

Once the weapons are handed in, they are safely given to police at Swindon's Gablecross station.

Danyelle and Jordan said they would like more backing for their efforts.

Jordan said her brother was a "brilliant uncle, son and brother"

"We get mainly mum's saying where's the intervention?" Danyelle said.

"It makes Jordan and myself so frustrated because we don't work for youth offending, we don't work with or for the police, we're just two independent people out here.

"We don't get any funding, we've been appealing and screaming for some support.

"Professional bodies they sit in an office they're not ever going to be prepared to come out here on the streets and build a relationship of trust to do one to one's with these individuals.

"They're not prepared to step into that young person's world."

Lee Turner died in the Pinehurst area of Swindon

In May, Wiltshire Police conducted four weeks of "enhanced proactive policing".

It said at the time that more than 300 focused patrols were carried out in response to the increase in knife crime in the town.

It added that this had lead to 30 arrests.

The force said that further activity would continue as it looked to combat knife crime and youth and gang related violence.

Supt Joe Saunders, from Wiltshire Police, said: "We welcome the work being carried out by partner agencies and have been working closely with them to help tackle knife crime and support victims.

'Building trust'

"Working with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, we have helped to shape the Youth Commission priorities - including knife crime.

"This will support in building trust and confidence with young people.

"Members of the Youth Commission have been able to provide valuable advice and guidance at stop search scrutiny panels.

"In addition, in partnership with Swindon Borough Council we have brought together a Police and Schools Panel - this brings us closer to safeguarding leads within education where we share information and intelligence effectively."