A North East mother has warned punishments for knife attacks ‘still need to fit the crime’ two decades on from her son’s murder.
Chris Cave was stabbed to death in Redcar in June 2003, and since then, his mother, Theresa, has fought tirelessly alongside her other son Tom through the Chris Cave Foundation to deter young people from carrying a knife or a gun or committing violent crime.
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Ms Cave said she was ‘devastated’ to hear a 14-year-old boy had died in Gateshead earlier this week from injuries “consistent with having been caused by a bladed article”.
She said: “My thoughts are with the young man’s family right now – we are devastated by the news.
“Knife crime is everywhere and even when we are not hearing about many attacks, as soon as you hear of one, it is one too many.
“As an organisation we go above and beyond to do what we can to stop this from escalating. It is time to break down more barriers and make more changes within the system too.
“No deterrents means easy ways out – the Government need to step in and make the punishments fit the crimes. Slaps on wrists for carrying knives isn’t the answer and it’s high time officials recognise this and put it right.”
Ms Cave also revealed she had secured funding for the Chris Cave Foundation until at least 2024, allowing her to carry on her work which supports the families of victims of knife crime and helps to educate young people on the dangers of carrying a knife.
The money comes from the newly-established Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV) She said: “We are really happy – we can relax now and do the work without the added worry of having to raise additional funding.
“We plan to start our first family day on November 26 where we will be bringing our families together to share their grief, and this will be one of many day planned throughout the coming year.
“It also means projects for young people can continue and education will be extended to so many more schools and colleges – the young people enjoy our projects and are stepping it up even more this year.
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Ms Cave, who is looking for a new centre to help the charity expand their services, praised Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner for his support with her work.
She also plans to work with Cleveland Police to make a victims memorial from the thousands of knives collected or handed in.
Mr Turner said: “Funding the work of the Chris Cave Foundation, which was founded and is led by Theresa Cave, was a no brainer. Theresa is passionate about what she does and tireless in her efforts to stop knife crime ruining the lives of more people across Cleveland and beyond.
“Her work with young people, aged up to 25, is invaluable. Not only does she provide some brilliant diversionary work to encourage young people not to become involved in knife crime and violence but her lived experience brings home a powerful message, which shows the massive impact of just one reckless action.”
- The Chris Cave Foundation has spoken to thousands of children and helped hundreds of families who have suffered as a result of knife or gun violence. For more information or to donate, email ccf_p7@outlook.com.
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