Zombie knife victim’s father welcomes ban

“£19.99. That was the price of the knife that killed my son.”

Dr Olumide Wole-Madariola says he remembers “vividly” the weapon used to homicide his 17-year-old son Malcolm Mide-Madariola in November 2018.

“It was a zombie knife, with a serrated edge. It is a weapon by no means for use on a human being.”

Malcolm, an A-level pupil, had simply completed his final day at school, when he tried to step in to defend one other teenager exterior Clapham South Tube station, and was stabbed within the coronary heart.

Malcolm’s killer, 18-year-old Tammuz Brown, was sentenced to 16 years for homicide and possessing a knife on the Outdated Bailey.

Treynae Campbell, who gave Brown the weapon, was handed 28 months at a youth offender establishment at an earlier listening to after admitting having a blade.

The courtroom heard Brown had a earlier conviction relationship again to August 2018 for possessing a zombie knife.

Prosecutors mentioned Malcolm was an harmless sufferer who “bravely sought to face as much as Brown, for which he paid together with his life”.

“He is somebody who’s left a legacy, of standing up for somebody,” Dr Wole-Madariola tells me.

“I bear in mind him as my very courageous son. He paid the final word value.”

He says Malcolm’s demise has left a void, which nothing else can fill: each household celebration, even the commencement of his different kids, is a reminder that Malcolm is lacking.

For years, Dr Wole-Madariola has campaigned for a ban on zombie-style knives.

Though the weapons had been added to the federal government’s record of prohibited offensive weapons in 2016, a loophole meant many may nonetheless be offered and possessed so long as they didn’t characteristic photos depicting violence on their handles.

From Tuesday, new laws will shut that loophole and make it an imprisonable offence to personal, make, transport or promote “zombie-style” knives and machetes in England and Wales.

Dr Wole-Madariola says the laws is “higher late than by no means”, however believes rather more must be finished.

He’s apprehensive a “black market will erupt”, with offenders nonetheless capable of promote weapons to youngsters over social media, and says it’s vital that there are sufficient sources for police to pursue these accountable.

“Over time it should scale back, the circulation will drop. That is what the regulation goes to do. So it is a welcome improvement. But it surely’s a place to begin, not an finish level.”

House workplace knowledge reveals 14,961 knife crime offences had been recorded by the Metropolitan Police within the 12 months to March 2024, an increase of 16 per cent on the 12 months earlier than.

Though the variety of homicides involving knives or sharp implements has fallen since 2019, to this point this 12 months, eight youngsters have misplaced their lives, together with a 15-year-old boy in Woolwich on Sunday.

Figures gathered by the BBC utilizing Freedom of Data requests recommend giant blades are additionally being recorded in increasingly crimes by police in England and Wales.

The variety of recorded crimes that talked about machetes, swords or zombie knives has nearly doubled in 5 years, though the Met didn’t reply to the BBC’s request for knowledge.

“It is horrific. It is appalling,” Dr Wole-Madariola says.

“What has deteriorated to that degree that a youngster will consider taking such knives and strolling on the streets with it?”

He believes extra must be finished to problem the tradition round why some younger folks see carrying weapons as a part of a “social standing”.

“That is the place the varsity is available in, that is the place the dad and mom are available, the place the non secular our bodies are available, and the place the charities are available.”

He believes dad and mom, specifically, should be way more conscious of the dangers.

“How would your baby depart the home with knives and you will not know? That is not attainable.”

He additionally desires harder sentences for many who kill, accusing the judicial system of “pampering criminals”.

The federal government has promised to halve knife crime over the subsequent decade, and says the ban on zombie-style knives and machetes will probably be adopted by plans to ban ninja swords.

Dr Wole-Madariola says he’s “very hopeful” in regards to the guarantees which were made.

He asks if he can present us “Malcolm’s area”, and leads us via into the conservatory, which the household have crammed with images, and tributes, signed posters and boxing gloves.

It’s a place full of reminiscences, which he takes us via one after the other: Malcolm as a younger baby, Malcolm dressed up for church, Malcolm on the airport, when he had insisted on seeing his father off earlier than a visit.

“Every time any of us really feel we wish to bear in mind Malcolm, we come right here,” he smiles.

“He was a great boy. He made me proud.”

He doesn’t need some other household to undergo as they’ve.

“The reminiscences we maintain. That is how we’re going to stay now for the remainder of our lives.”