Bermondsey MP Neil Coyle is taking the message of a grieving mother straight to the Prime Minister, after joining her on a march against knife crime on Saturday.
Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, walked alongside Mariama Kamara (aka Baby Leigh) and over a hundred supporters on the route from the home of sixteen-year-old Mohamed Dura-Ray to the spot where he was stabbed to death on Monday, September 14.
When Mr Coyle asked Mariama what she would say to David Cameron, Mo’s uncle Alan said she replied: “Increase the police. Maybe if there were more police someone would have been able to save my son’s life.”
Police were called to Canterbury Place on Monday, September 14 shortly before 11pm to a ‘large disturbance’ and found Mo suffering from multiple stab wounds. London’s Air Ambulance attended but the Globe Academy student was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the light of proposed cuts to Police Community Support Officers, some of whom used to be based around the corner from where Mo was killed, Mr Coyle says he is taking that message to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Theresa May.
“Mariama is right that further cuts to the police will have consequences. I’m going to ask the Prime Minister and Theresa May to meet with Mariama to discuss her concerns,” he said.
Mr Coyle has also sent letters to every household on the Kinglake Estate and to those properties looking out on to the crime scene in Canterbury Place, to appeal for witnesses to come forward.
Speaking at the march he said: “This brutal, outrageous death of a sweet boy was a terrible thing. Mo was robbed of his potential, of everything he was able to achieve. Look at this family and their grief.
There are possibly people right here who know what happened and who must come forward. Do not be afraid. If you know who did this, please come forward so that no other family need experience this.”
Mr Coyle’s letter to potential witnesses is designed to reassure the young people present at Mo’s murder and their parents that it is possible to give information anonymously.
Borough Commander Zander Gibson is making arrangements to visit Mariama and pay his condolences in person and discuss plans for a possible knife amnesty, to echo the Mo Foundation slogan, ‘drop the knives, save lives’.
Anyone with information can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 as callers are not even asked for their name.
The family are raising money to pay for Mo’s funeral when his body is released by the police. To donate to Mo’s funeral fund, click here