An ex-gangster whose brother was stabbed to death has issued advice to parents who fear their child is mixed up in knife crime.
Matthew Norford, from Rusholme, dealt drugs and used guns and intimidation tactics to control south Manchester’s streets during some of the most violent years in the city’s history. But after his brother Gary was knifed to death during a botched robbery, Matthew turned his life around.
The dad, who was shot in both legs with a machine gun, now mentors children on how to avoid going down the wrong path. Matthew founded his community organisation 1 Message because he was "that kid", and knows he can relate to children who might be involved in knife crime differently to the police or their teachers.
It comes as a new campaign was launched to tackle knife crime after three Greater Manchester youths, aged 16, 17, and 20 were stabbed to death in just two months. Matthew reassured parents that there is help out there - but they must sometimes act with "tough love".
“I'd say, you know your kid and what is best in your heart for the kid," he told the M.E.N . "Get some advice from social services, get advice from colleagues, go on the internet and Google someone like myself.
“A lot of parents need to hear how good they actually do and not how bad you’re doing. You can tell me until the cows come home, don't steal, if I'm going to steal, I'm going to go steal. It doesn't mean you've not brought me up right.”
He emphasised how young people feeling safe enough to speak out and make good decisions often starts with love and acceptance - as well as some tough love - at home.
“A lot of people are not going to like this, but parents, when your kid is coming into the house, if you know they’ve got something on them, you need to be challenging them,” he said.
“Love is a big part of it. Nurture is a big part of it. And if you're not getting nurtured at home, you're going to want to be loved. That's why young kids go into basketball, football clubs, Boy Scouts, whatever, because you won't be a part of something.
“Parents need to be accountable for you until a certain age and work again with the police, work with social workers and with the help that's out there.”
Kelly Brown, mother of 16-year-old Rhamero West who was stabbed to death in Old Trafford last September, is working with Matthew, alongside mayor Andy Burnham, and Superintendent Caroline Hemingway who leads Greater Manchester Police (GMP) ’s Violence Reduction Unit, to ensure that young people have the tools they need to speak up about knife crime.
She wants to see communities - including parents, schools, and social services - working together. They hope that by asking children to speak out, they can avoid further tragedies.
“I don’t want another parent to go through the pain I have,” Kelly said. “Communities need to come together and talk amongst each other. Then it will build trust with everyone else. I think it's important that we're all working together, because if you can save one life, you're doing something right."
The campaign, titled #SpeakingOutCouldSaveALife, encourages young people with concerns about knife crime to reach out to trusted adults - whether those are parents, teachers, social workers, or anyone else.
Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Hughes, advised concerned parents to think about who else they could speak to if they were worried about their child potentially carrying a knife.
“I would advise parents to think about what is the best person for them in that situation to talk to,” she said. “They could go straight to talk to somebody about the child's school and find a way to make their fears known.”
She reassured parents that anything they say will be kept “totally confidential”. ”Passing the information on without those concerns is the first step to protecting that child from getting into the kind of difficulty that could be absolutely disastrous and potentially fatal.
“So, you know, we really want to reassure parents and other adults that there is help, and that they can think about which is the best person for them to approach and they will find that help.”
Mayor Andy Burnham emphasised that the main message of the campaign is to highlight that “carrying knives ruins lives” - not just for the victim, but also for the perpetrator.
Speaking of Kelly’s bravery, he said: “I don't think anyone of any age could not just stop and listen when somebody like Kelly speaks. It’s everyone's worst nightmare, seeing your mum in that position. The bravery of Kelly in joining this campaign is huge, and it's much appreciated.
“I think by speaking out, she is reducing the chance that somebody else would go through what she has.”
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