STATEMENT OF INTENT
#OPERATIONSHUTDOWN CENTRAL LONDON 17TH APRIL 2019- IN THE P.M
Who are OPERATION SHUTDOWN?
We are a consortium of knife crime campaigners, bereaved family members, individuals, grassroots and other youth /community groups, organising together under one banner, to deliver #OPERATIONSHUTDOWN, which will be a peaceful but strong and impactful protest.
We are ORGANISING OPERATION shutdown as we are sick and tired of waking up daily, to hear the news of more lives lost to knife crime, to know a generation of young people are being lost to senseless violence, we know the misery and pain that awaits these families.
We do not believe the Prime Minister, her Cabinet Ministers and her Majesty’s Government as a whole, nor many of our own Councillors and MPs have acted with enough priority, urgency, care, nor consideration.
Nor have the Government yet to allocate the appropriate measures and funding to start to tackle this national emergency, head on: ensuring it is tackled effectively, proportionately and as a matter of national priority
We are mothers, fathers and other family members who have had our children and relatives stolen from us; via use of weapons such as knives and guns.
OUR DEMANDS (a work in progress)
1. We demand the Government immediately call a COBR meeting on this national emergency and crisis, calling on the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) to begin preparations immediately
2. We demand the Government halt and reverse further planned cuts to local council budgets and restore adequate funds for local council to be able to fund statutory youth and community services that are then, able to serve their communities needs fully
3. We demand the reversal of cuts to UK police budgets to ensure adequate police numbers, staffing and resources and to allow the police to do their jobs, without undue pressure, so they can investigate crimes; keep communities safe and respond to crime in a timely and affective manner
4. We demand the reversal of cuts to education and schools to allow our teachers to teach and other specialist staff to support our children with early intervention and prevention
5. We demand the mandating of early intervention at keep stages of primary school education and to fund complimentary and specialist support staff working in schools
5. We demand the Government and Home Office bring back our community bobbies on the beat and within our local communities
6. We demand the Government and Parliament review sentencing guidelines for repeat weapon offenders, we believe their is little deterrent in law, for those found to carry weapons
7. We demand prison reform legislation and arrangements made, so that every minute of incarceration is spent on rehabilitation activity
8. We demand those found guilty of murder to serve a full life term, the maximum sentence possible in law
9. We demand mandatory requirement for prisoners to undertake training, qualifications, courses and therapies, prior to release and before granted any reduced sentence or time off on good behaviour
8. We demand mandatory and specialised support offered to all victims families members
9. We demand the Government to create the role of a Young peoples Tzar and Serious Violence Tzar
10. We demand all local councils provide meaningful opportunities and forums for their constituents to be both briefed on local and national initiatives and for those most impacted to have their voices heard by decision makers on a regular basis.
11. We demand introducing a law guaranteeing a VICTIMS charter- for families and loved ones and survivors of serious violence
12. We demand the Government mandate youth work as a profession, as we have done with teachers, nurses and social workers, give youth work the respect it deserves as a specialist and highly skilled occupation and profession
13. Finally, we demand the Government and its appropriate ministers and departments meet with us, so we start a meaningful dialogue and relationship, TO work together, this cannot be solved without including those at the grassroots
Why are we doing this?
We are a group of parents and knife crime campaigners, who are absolutely sick and tired of waking up daily to hear more tragic news of young people being stabbed and murdered on our streets, in our communities across the UK.
As mothers, we did not carry our children for 9 months, give birth, raise them, to have our children go on to kill each other and die or be hurt at the hands of one another- often for senseless and incomprehensible reasons, we simply will NOT accept this as ‘normal’ nor get used to this – enough is enough, we are compelled to take direct action
We do not believe enough is being done, with enough urgency, with enough priority and treated like the national public health emergency and crisis that it is
We do not believe our voices and the voices of young people are heard, often enough, with filter, or dilution or censorship
We have decided to take this peaceful, but drastic form of lawful protest, as we feel we have no other choice, we intend to make a powerful impact and to have our voices and demands heard.
Who are we?
We are a group, primarily of family members and loved ones, who are directly and indirectly affected by knife crime, we are those who have lost children and loved ones, we are supported by individuals and groups who are directly involved in tackling knife crime and serious violence; all working as one, to get ensure our demands and message is heard loud and seen widely
Date, time and location
Wednesday 17th of April 2pm initial assemble in Central London in the p.m
Exact Bridge to be announced on the day of protest
Our aims and considerations
1. We create maximum impact and achieve our aims and objectives
2. Public and protestor safety is paramount at all times
3. We are inclusive and give good notice, good quality and clear information
OPERATION SHUT DOWN TEAM