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Film highlights 'virus' of knife crime

Alex Popeand
Annabel Amos,Northamptonshire
News imageUKFS Cheri Curran, sitting down, taking part in a film, looking off to the camera, she is wearing a white T-shirt, with a microphone at her neck, and a necklace round her neck. She has long straight blonde hair. UKFS
Cheri Curran, mother of Louis-Ryan Menezes, said what had been achieved in the film was "outstanding"

A new film inspired by the killings of two teenagers aims to highlight the "virus" of knife crime.

Losing Our Children (The War on Knife Crime) was prompted by the deaths of Fred Shand and Louis-Ryan Menezes in Northampton.

Gary Halliday, the director of UK Film School, based at Ecton, near Northampton, said it was driven by the voices of young people directly affected, to give them a platform to share their experiences and encourage open conversations.

Jethro, a friend of Fred, said knife crime was never-ending, adding: "We have to speak to the youth. We have to make them feel included, wanted."

News imageUKFS Cheri Curran, standing next to Rohan Shand Snr, in a film. They are in a room. She has a black T-shirt on with her son's name on it and images of him. Rohan is wearing a red Adidas tracksuit top and is looking down. Cheri is looking to the right. There is a mirror and photos behind them. UKFS
The father of Fred Shand, Rohan Shand Snr, appears in the film alongside Curran

A special premiere of the film, funded by Kingsthorpe Parish Council, took place at the Odeon cinema in Northampton on Monday night.

Halliday hopes it will be shown on Amazon and said he was talking to distributors about a global release.

"We want this to be around the world. We don't just want it to be a local-based film as the issue isn't local," he said.

"Yes, it's happening in Northampton – these things happened in Northampton – but we want to extend it."

Jotham, another friend of Fred, said: "People don't know where to go. There isn't enough information or education on what people can be doing with their time.

"Instead of focusing on their future, they're looking outward for a society they can feel part of.

"The key is awareness."

News imageUKFS Cheri Curran, sitting in a cafe, talking to a man. She is looking at him and looks concerned. She is wearing a dark T-shirt and coat. The man has short dark hair and has on a multi-coloured top. A coffee cup is by his side. Cars are parked outside and there is building work going on outside. UKFS
In the film, Curran speaks to other people about the impact of knife crime

Cheri Curran, the mother of Louis-Ryan who was stabbed to death in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, in 2018, aged 17, said she was "honoured to take part" in the film and described knife crime as a "virus".

"There's no relief for parents and families and communities that lose their loved ones. It's the most horrible thing for any family to go through," she said.

"We can't keep pretending it's not an issue. It's not just my problem, it's not just the police's problem, not just the council's problem – this is everyone's problem.

"I feel like I've been shouting and saying the same things over and over again. Has my little boy gone in vain?

"We all need to do more; the film highlights it. The fight goes on."

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