Anti-knife crime campaigner wants greater police presence

Charity worker and anti knife crime campaigner Anthony Olaseinde, founder of charity Always an Alternative, has backed the Park LIfe campaign and the OBOS petition.

He agreed action is required to ensure the city’s green spaces are made safer for everyone – including young people. He supports safety initiatives that could make the city a better place to live and work for all.

Following his formation of the anti-knife campaign Keep Sheffield Stainless three years ago, Mr Olaseinde, 33, set up the non-profit organisation Always an Alternative working to reduce serious youth violence across the city.

The youth worker and entrepreneur who has recently published the educational novel One Knife Many Lives backed this campaign to light up the city’s green space.

“Parks are notorious for dodgy criminals and illegal activities so I definitely believe that lighting would make a difference. If you’re going to do a crime you like to move in darkness to hide your identity.

“I’m six foot four and twenty odd stone but you’re not catching me there if there’s no lighting.”

Mr Olaseinde believed a greater police presence was also needed alongside light installations.

“When I say police presence, I mean police that want to make a difference and that want to make people safe. With police there that care, that want to make people feel safe, that want to make a difference.”