Heartbroken mum of teen stabbed to death says…

Heartbroken mum of teen stabbed to death says government have 'blood on their hands'

A mum whose son was killed in a machete attack said the government's failures mean they have 'blood on their hands'. Heartbroken Kelly Brown, 47, was speaking as new figures show the deadly blades are being used in a crime every hour.

Machetes featured in almost 700 offences a month - six times more than eight years - as the weapon of choice for violent thugs. Kelly, whose son Rhamero West, 16, was stabbed to death in Old Trafford, in September 2021, believes the huge rise in the use of the knives shows vows to ban them were just empty promises.

Rhamero, the nephew of former Manchester City star Shaun Wright-Phillips, was chased down by a 'pack of wolves' before he was fatally knifed on Norton Street. A senior detective said it was a 'miracle' that members of the public were not caught up in the terrifying incident.

Marquis Richards, 17, Ryan Cashin, 19, and Giovanni Lawrence, 20, were jailed after being found guilty of his murder. Kelly now campaigns against knife crime after setting up Mero's World – a foundation in her son's memory.

Her charity has opened a youth centre and secured life-saving bleed kits across the city.

Kelly Brown, mother of 16 year-old Rhamero West (Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)

She said: "The Government has blood on its hands. How many more murders do they need before they act and ban these machetes and knives?

"I knew they wouldn't do anything, they're trying to look good but are dragging their feet. It's empty promises and false hope."

Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, which campaigns against knife crime, said: "There is no legitimate reason why anyone would need to buy a machete in the UK. Machetes are designed for clearing land.

"They are also far too easy to obtain, a few clicks online and you can have one delivered to your door the next day. These weapons all too frequently end up on our streets and are used to intimidate, maim, and kill.

Ryan Cashin, Marquis Richards and Giovanni Lawrence (GMP)

"They have no place in our society and they should be banned."

Suella Braverman is now the fifth Conservative Home Secretary to promise a ban on machetes and zombie knives, named as such because their ornate blades are often seen in horror films. Latest figures from police forces in England and Wales show machetes are being used in almost 700 offences every month.

But the true total is even higher as the nation’s largest force, the Metropolitan Police, failed to provide stats, saying it would take staff too long to compile. A survey of police forces found machetes were involved in 1,335 crime incidents in two months at the end of last year.

Last month the Home Office announced a seven-week public consultation over plans to ban machetes and zombie knives with people selling them facing up to two years in jail.

Suella Braverman, said: "The thugs wielding these deadly knives aim to terrorise their victims and the public, and too often even carry out horrific or fatal attacks. They are emboldened by the cowardly idea that carrying these blades inflates their own status and respect."

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here