Teen stabbed to death in Hackney

A 13year old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 17yr old sports star in Hackney.

Jahmal Maison Blair was stabbed in the neck on a busy street on Saturday night. A facebook group has been set up in his memory. Jahmal is the 6th teenager to die of stab wounds in London this year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/may/23/london-hackney-teenager-stabbing

Police accused of negligence over schoolgirl stabbing

The family of a 15yr old girl stabbed 30 times by an obsessive ex boyfriend have said that the police ignored their repeated requests for help over his threatening behaviour.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8059336.stm

Teenage girls consuming 'toxic junk media'

The Daily Mail (yes, I know... but they're actually speaking sense this time) have published an article examining the TV viewing habits of teenage girls. The results show that they are watching programmes with themes covering very adult issues - such as incest, sexual abuse and drug addiction.

This is nothing new, I bet most women remember reading magazines that were much too old for them when they were teenagers, but it does serve as a reminder that the media is often a reflective surface for real life... with regards to our Swarmer audience this is almost certainly true.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1183891/Hooked-toxic-TV-Teen-viewing-diaries-reveal-alarming-diet-sex-greed-cruelty.html

Portrait of children who slip through the system

Channel 4 screened a film called 'The Unloved' last night. Directed by Samantha Morton, it's a gritty portrayal of a little girl who is put in care. Her parents are unstable, and she seems to slip through the care system with no-one seeming to care for her properly.

It's quite haunting; the little girl comes across some darki characters including a drug abusing shoplifter and an abusive care worker. The film highlights the inadequacies of the care system; her social worker doesn't get petrol allowance so doesn't go to see her, no-one will give her a straight answer, she's thrust into a hostile environment and left to get on with it.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-unloved/catch-up#2917993

Knife-related injuries on C4

Channel 4's programme 'The Homecoming' last night featured some people who had been involved with knife crime (well, had sustained knife-related injuries by the look of it). The programme follows one woman going back to the place where she was broought up in foster care, and she encounters people she knew then. At times it's very sad, mostly because of the stories of the people she left behind...

Catch it on 4oD...

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-homecoming/catch-up#2917375

Horror film inspires brutal killing of youth

In a horrific insight into the way that depictions of violence can influence young people, the horror film Severance has been named as the inspiration for a brutal murder of a teenager in Norwich.

The teen was tied to a tree, doused in petrol then set alight after he allegedly had an affiar with the girlfriend of his killer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1174378/Teenager-burned-alive-scene-horror-movie-caught-love-triangle.html

Gang related stabbing kills 16yr okd boy

A 16yr old boy has died in front of his sister after being stabbed in an attack by a rival gang in Stockwell.

The gangs modelled themselves on notorious LA gangs the Bloods and the Crips, re-naming themselves as 031 (pronouned O-Tray) and ABM (All About Money). 031 are reportedly linked to the shooting (and death) of a 16yr old in 2007.

At least 5 other people and a Staffordshire bull terrier are being treated for stab wounds following the incident, which involved around 10 youths per gang.

The story references a football coach (links to our confidence strand, could potentially act as a mentor for young people) and lists the young people who have died in knife-related incidents this year.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1174208/Boy-16-dies-sister-stabbing-attack-park-battle-rival-gangs.html

Man stabbed in car park

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/8050838.stm

14yr old admits stabbing

A 14yr old has admitted stabbing another pupil in the back with a knife stolen from his grandmother's kitchen.

The attack took place in March but has just come to court. The attack was unprovoked. Disturbingly, the attacker said afterwards that he 'felt much better' and has since undergone psychological profiling.

The victim's lung collapsed and his condition was critical, however he is now recivering.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8049904.stm