Surrey dad urges all parents to have conversations with their children regarding knife crime
Martin Cosser lost his son Charlie to a stabbing at a house party in 2023
A Surrey dad who lost his son in a stabbing is urging parents to talk their children about the dangers of knife crime.
Charlie Cosser died after he was stabbed at a house party in 2023, since then his dad Martin started the charity Charlie's Promise, raising awareness around knife crime
He told us it's a vital conversation to have no matter where you live
"Well, I think a lot of people think, oh, we live in leafy Surrey, and it's not an issue here.
I'll be honest, I ignorantly thought that before we lost Charlie. Sarah and I never spoke to our children about carrying knives because we knew they wouldn't carry them. But we never legislated for the actions and behaviour of others.
Knife crime affects everywhere. It's not just inner cities and gangs, it is in small villages
I do parent talks, I always say to parents, use our story, use my little boy's story as an example of what can happen for just a normal family."
This week is Operation Sceptre, a week of national police action against knife crime.
Martin says although it's important to use these moments to talk about knife crime, it has to be brought up all year round
"It's critically important. It shouldn't just be about one week, Knife Crime Awareness Week, Operation Sceptre. We all have a part to play in the fight against knife crime. As parents, as grandparents, as carers, as teachers, as young people ourselves
Just to be aware and, and, and, you know, take the fact that if you hear someone's carrying a knife, actually, that's a serious thing."
Fearless is a service that has been set up by Crimestoppers and allows people to report knife crime anonymously, something Martin emphasised everyone should be aware of
Martin told he's concerned the current gap between generations is
"I tell you something now, young people have inspired me the last two years, but they are a million miles away from the adult population.
The gap is getting wider and wider. They speak their own language. If you're a parent, you're a teacher, you're listening, build that rapport and close that gap
It amazes me how many disclosures I get after my talks for vulnerable young kids that have been bullied, been threatened with a knife, or have other challenges in their life and they're scared to speak up and they don't have a trusted adult they can talk to."