Community Life

With no end in sight to this disturbing trend, campaign groups like Urban Concepts have been wrestling with various ideas of how to tackle this problem.

In 2005 the organisation launched its first Don't Trigger campaign using music as the main tool to speak to young people - many of whom were being drawn into a life of crime through gangs.

Two years on, Urban Concepts premieres its first feature length anti-gun and knife crime film – Hip Hop Opera. In conjunction with groups like Mothers Against Guns and MAMAs [Mothers Against Murder and Aggression] the film highlights the futile nature of gun and knife crime.

Freda with picture of George

One family which have been involved in the Don't Trigger campaign is the Hamilton family in New Addington, Croydon. 

George Hamilton was stabbed to death by his cousin in 2004. His murder has destroyed his family.

“The other family live in the same area that we live in and we pretty much just walk pass each other in the streets now – we just don't talk”, says Freda Hamilton the victim’s sister.

Freda goes on:

“Sometimes I say she [mum] hasn't coped with George’s death. I don't think she’s ever going to recover from what happened”.

For Freda and her family, being involved in the Don't Trigger campaign has been a useful means of getting the anti-gun and knife crime messages across to young people.

To see and hear more about the heartache caused by gun and knife, watch the video above.

Do you think using music and films like Hip Hop Opera is the way to get through to young people?

If not, what more should be done to get anti-gun and knife crime message across?

Email: evadney.campbell@bbc.co.uk