The Leader podcast: Banksy-backed art project’s bid to cut London knife crime

An art charity backed by Banksy, Tracey Emin and Gilbert & George is helping divert hundreds of young Londoners away from knife crime and serious violence every year - with creative disciplines from nail painting to podcasting.

Now, Art Against Knives has produced a report with civil rights group Liberty hoping of finding what it describes as a “non-policing solution” to London’s tragic battle against rising knife crime, amid youth services ravaged by years of austerity and council cuts.

The project was founded by Oliver Hemsley, who as a 20-year-old Central St Martin’s student in 2008 was left paralysed and in a wheelchair after being stabbed in a random, unprovoked attack.

Hemsley suffered up to eight stab wounds, mostly to his lungs and heart, in the attack by a gang of youths in Shoreditch - and spent 134 days in intensive care.

As part of his recovery, the promising fashion designer’s friends helped raise cash and secure donated artworks for auction from some of Britain’s biggest creative names - and Art Against Knives was born, co-founded with his business partner Katy Dawe. This episode was recorded in Barnet, a borough where Met data shows knife crime’s up over 20 per cent since last year.

We met the charity’s chief executive Dr Sally Zlotowitz to discuss their work, their report with Liberty, young people’s perceptions of the police, plus the social impact of lockdowns and the cost of living crisis on young Londoners.

Listen above, and find us on your Spotify Daily Drive or wherever you stream your podcasts.