This week central London has witnessed an unprecedented rise in death by knife crime, which has surpassed even that in New York. The cause for this sudden increase has not. Even fully understood, and so sociologist criminologists and other professionals have tried to give reason to this most difficult and shameful period within the UK. The common factor to this epidemic seems to have one commonality, that the perpetrators randomly act against innocent and unrelated victims drawn from all walks of society.
The Metropolitan Police have since deployed an extra 300 extra officers each day in London this weekend, in anticipation of potential crime.
One BBC reporter gave a reason for the upturn in crime was due to a lack of love and time that parents have been given to their children. He continued, suggesting that this impacted children regardless of their economic or social status. In the absence of love, children will gravitate to other realms or groups of persons that may influence their thinking and actions who too feel unloved and consequently act out in such a manner.
When Peter took a sword to the ear of the soldier during Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told Peter to put the sword back, saying he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. Read Matthew 26:52.
When violence begets violence the church has a social and spiritual responsibility to enact prayerfully and invoke the spirit of God to expel the spirit of darkness.
There has been immense concern over the attacks and killings on the streets of London, and for some, it has spiralled into a blame game, with some asking where are the parents of these perpetrators. Others blaming the Government for the lack of Police on the streets. Others still blaming the Government for the cuts in youth service provision.
Everyone has a responsibility in this season to do something to create change. We can no longer think ‘this is too far away to affect me’. We are all impacted whether near or far.
What will you do to make a difference?
