From Bath’s streets to the corridors of power, individuals are mobilizing against the tide of knife crime and calling for changes in sentencing laws, driven by personal loss and the quest for justice.
In Bath, Hayley Ryall is spearheading a campaign to combat knife crime in memory of her son, Mikey, who was fatally stabbed at a 16th birthday celebration. Mikey, remembered for his vibrant and caring nature, fell victim to a “zombie knife.” Following the tragic event, one teenager was found guilty of murder, and two others were convicted of manslaughter. This case highlighted the distressing rise in teenage knife attacks in the Bath and Bristol area, leading to calls for stringent measures and increased efforts to curb knife crime. Ryall’s initiative, Mikey’s World, aims to prevent future incidents similar to her son’s death.
Simultaneously, former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella is championing for more severe sentencing for domestic killers who utilize weapons found at the crime scene. Her campaign addresses what she perceives as a sentencing loophole that results in lesser sentences for domestic murderers compared to those who premeditate their killings with weapons they bring. The government is considering this disparity, particularly in light of Kinsella’s advocacy, which previously influenced the imposition of a minimum 25-year sentence for premeditated murderers. The Ministry of Justice is evaluating public feedback to potentially close this ten-year sentencing gap, reflecting the broader call for justice reform in response to the 100 domestic killings out of 590 overall murders in England and Wales in 2023.
