Islington Council Unveils Comprehensive Youth Safety Strategy with Emotional Launch Event
HILLRISE ward councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo delivered a powerful plea to young people in Islington to "put down the knives" during the official launch of the borough's new Youth Safety Strategy for 2025-2030. The emotional event took place at the Emirates Stadium, featuring speeches from councillors and families of victims alongside musical performances by local youth.
Early Intervention Takes Center Stage in Five-Year Plan
Islington Council's strategy prioritizes early intervention, developed through extensive engagement meetings with young people across the borough. The council stands among only a handful of London boroughs with a dedicated youth crime and safety strategy, marking this as their third consecutive five-year plan.
Councillor Safi-Ngongo, who serves as executive member for children, young people and families, emphasized the strategy's life-saving purpose. "This strategy is about protecting life," she told the Tribune. "When I joined my role as executive, after less than a month there was a loss of a 15-year-old boy. It was very heartbreaking to see how the community went through that event."
Addressing Root Causes of Knife Carrying
The councillor addressed the complex motivations behind knife carrying among youth. "Mostly, young people carry knives because of fear. They feel like having a knife is somehow protecting them. And sometimes young people are getting involved in gangs, and they think it's a cool new look, or style, for them to have a knife."
Her direct message to young people was unequivocal: "Drop the knife, drop the gun, let's protect life."
Whole Systems Approach to Youth Safety
Curtis Ashton, Director of Young Islington and co-author of the strategy, explained their comprehensive approach. While acknowledging knife crime as a high priority, he emphasized their "whole systems" methodology encompassing mental health provisions, close collaboration with the Metropolitan Police and community groups, and tailored community work for minority populations.
"Of course, there are some groups of young people that need additional support," Ashton noted. "For instance, our Somali community, because we've had a number of homicides, unfortunately, in recent times. So one of the things that we have done is to set up a Somali taskforce partnership meeting where we bring together partners from different sectors to really work together."
Alarming Statistics Drive Strategy Development
The strategy responds directly to concerning data from the borough. Knife crime emerged as the top priority for young people surveyed by Islington Council, with over 60 percent identifying it as the most pressing issue. Between January and October 2025 alone, Islington recorded 10 stabbings and 400 knife crime-related incidents.
Reported victims showed significant gender disparity, with 307 males compared to 57 females. Ashton addressed this pattern: "Ultimately, and unfortunately, it is the case that when we look at homicides, young men are probably more likely to carry knives, for whatever reason. In terms of exploitation, we know that young women are also groomed and exploited. In terms of knife possession, we do know that young males are more likely to carry knives."
The strategy aims to help all young people "realize their full potential" through targeted interventions and community partnerships, with the Somali taskforce representing one of several specialized approaches to address specific community needs.
