Mum's anti-knife campaign sees shop opened in Colchester (From Essex County Standard)

Mum's anti-knife campaign sees shop opened in Colchester

10:54am Sunday 28th October 2012 in News

A MOTHER’S campaign to cut knife crime following the death of her son has seen a new fundraising and awareness-raising shop opened in Colchester

Caroline Shearer launched her own anti-weapons campaign, called Only Cowards Carry, in memory of her son Jay Whiston, from Clacton, who died after being stabbed at a house party in Colchester.

One of Jay’s school friends, Lillie Cull-Carr, 17, has helped to launch the shop inititive.

Lillie said: “We raised a lot of money and got more than 800 signatures.

“If criminals carry weapons they can be put away for up to four years – we think that should be ten years.

“It may well cost taxpayers more to keep them inside longer, but we do not want to lose people to knife crime.

“It is hoped the shop can be kept running after this week and that it could fund Caroline’s aim to go round primary schools and teach youngsters about the devastation that can be caused.

“She wants to tell them that carrying knives is not cool.”

The shop is in the Lion Walk shopping centre.

See more details and a picture of the opening in today's Gazette.