‘It’s just getting worse’: Sheffield mum launches petition after shootings and stabbings in city

A worried Sheffield mum has launched a petition calling for more funding for youth services following a spate of shootings and stabbings in the city.
By Claire Lewis
Published 11th Mar 2020, 10:41 BST
Updated 11th Mar 2020, 11:36 BST
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The petition, launched two months ago, has over 80,000 signatures so far, with organiser Kimberley Butterley hoping to deliver it to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel once she collects 100,000 names, which is when petitions are automatically considered for debate by the Government.

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Mr Butterley, a mum-of-three from Woodhouse, said: “Youth violence and child criminal exploitation in the UK are at an all time high, and the government isn’t doing enough to prevent it.

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A petition has been launched calling for extra funding for youth services after a spate of stabbings and shootings in SheffieldA petition has been launched calling for extra funding for youth services after a spate of stabbings and shootings in Sheffield
A petition has been launched calling for extra funding for youth services after a spate of stabbings and shootings in Sheffield

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“In the past five years, knife crime has increased and the number of young people who lost their lives to violence has risen. And because of massive cuts to funding for youth programmes and services, the criminal exploitation of children has sky-rocketed.

“If the government wants to protect young people in the UK from violence and exploitation, they need to fund youth services that can intervene early in young people’s lives, making sure they have safe places to go to and trusted adults to help them and protect them from harm.

“I started this petition because I have children myself, and I want the government to do more to give them opportunities, and keep them safe.”

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She added: “I felt like I had to do something because it is just getting worse.

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“I know gun and knife crime is happening everywhere but I live in Sheffield and I have three children and am scared for when they grow up.

“I don’t want them to go out, I am scared for their safety.

“I remember when I was younger that I was always in the local youth club, we had somewhere to go. Young people these days don’t have that any more.

“We need more clubs and youth workers so that kids can have opportunities again, so that they have somewhere to go to get them off the streets. We need to do all we can to keep them safe.”

Click HERE to sign the petition.