West Midlands anti-knife crime campaigner recognised in King's Birthday Honours
Pooja Kanda has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
A West Midlands anti-knife crime campaigner recognised in the King's Birthday Honours has vowed to continue to tackle the scourge.
Pooja Kanda has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) following her tireless campaign for changes in the law after her 16-year-old son Ronan was murdered with a ninja sword yards away from his Wolverhampton home.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Kanda said she was "grateful" and "overwhelmed" by the honour following the death of her son in June 2022.
The 48-year-old said: "The day I heard about the OBE, I held his picture. I shed tears.
"I know that the OBE is in my name, but this is for my son.
"I'm only here because of who he was. He was such a kind, loving, caring, not a son, not a brother, a human being, a person who everyone loved."