Just Light was among the performers at the Youth Safety Strategy launch event at the Emirates Stadium

HILLRISE ward councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo has called on young people in Islington to “put down the knives” at the launch of the new Youth Safety Strategy for 2025-2030.

Early intervention is a key priority in Islington Council’s strategy, built from engagement meet­ings with young people from across the borough.

The launch event at the Emirates Stadium heard speeches from councillors and families of victims as well as musical performances from young people in Islington.

Islington is one of only a handful of boroughs in London that has a dedicated youth crime and safety strategy, and this is the third five-year plan they have developed.

Speaking to the Tribune, Councillor Safi-Ngongo, who is the executive member for children, young people and families, said: “This strategy is about protecting life. 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.

Curtis Ashton

“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.

“And so my message to every young person is: drop the knife, drop the gun, let’s protect life.”
Curtis Ashton, the Director of Young Islington and co-author of the strategy, told the Tribune that although knife crime was a high priority, they would be taking a “whole systems” approach that would encompass mental health provisions, close collaboration with the Metropolitan Police and other groups, as well as tailored community work for minority communities across the borough.

He said: “Of course, there are some groups of young people that need additional support. For instance, our Somali community, because we’ve had a number of homicides, unfortunately, in recent times.

Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo

“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 to make sure that we can help those young men in particular, but young women as well, to realise their full potential.”

Knife crime was a key priority for the young people surveyed by Islington Council, with over 60 per cent saying they felt it was the most pressing issue in the borough.
There were 10 stabbings and 400 knife crime-related incidents between January and October 2025 in Islington. Reported victims were over­whelmingly male, at 307 compared to 57 females.
Mr Ashton said: “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.”