The mother of a 15-year-old boy who was killed in Woolwich two years ago is backing a Greenwich Council campaign against knife crime.

There have been nearly 1,200 knife offences in Greenwich borough in the past three years, while 12 people have been killed in the past two years alone – an average of one every eight weeks.

The campaign features a powerful and graphic video, featuring a fictional youth recounting his hopes and dreams for the future, which aims to remind people of the value of life yet to be Iived.  

It also features advice on how to hand in a knife, where to go to feel safe, and on apprenticeships and careers.   

Hawa Haragakiza, whose son Tamim Ian Habimana died outside the Tramshed in July 2021, said: “It’s hard to watch this story, as  it is what my son wanted to do with his future – which was to be a lawyer or a businessman. This campaign is needed so we can save lives and put an end to knife crime once and for all.  

“My mission is to make sure my son isn’t forgotten but also save young people and their families from going through what we are going through.”  

A 16-year-old boy was convicted of manslaughter for Tamim’s death, which took place at the height of the evening rush hour. The killing was said to be a revenge attack for another stabbing in Dartford nine days previously.

Ann-Marie Cousins, the cabinet member for community safety, said: “Through Let’s Live Knife Free we aim to place emphasis on the positives of life whilst acknowledging the seriousness of knife crime.    

 “Knife carrying can be seen as the norm in some communities, and some people carry knives because they think everyone else is, but this is not the case. 

“Even with the excuse that you may never want to use it, carrying a knife will ruin your life. It will land you in prison and stop you from travelling freely. That or those outcomes  can’t be worth it. Carrying a knife puts yourself and everyone around you in danger and limits your life chances.”

The video, Big Dreams, was made by the creative agency Nice and Serious after workshops with young people and community groups.

Serafima Serafimova, the director, said: “It was important for us to show how knife crime impacts more people than those directly involved. The friends, families and wider communities of the victims, as well as the offenders, are forced to live with the traumatic aftermath which can often have a lasting and devastating effect.    

“We developed a narrative that follows a young man daydreaming about his aspirations for life, depicting scenes of him exploring the world, getting into university and starting a family. By showing our lead at multiple stages of his life, we could simultaneously have young people, their parents and older generations empathise with him. When we revisit him laying down in the same position as we first saw him, it’s revealed that he’s alone in the street, dying.    

“Our hope is that every viewer believes that this character could be their son, their daughter, brother or sister or partner, whose big dreams for life will never become a reality because of knife crime.”   

 Anthony Okereke, the council leader, said: “Everyone should be able to dream big but it only takes one knife to devastate a community and someone’s future.”

The campaign can be found at www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/knifefree.