Fighting Knife Crime

Adventist Radio London inspiration for the song Good Evening. Sorry for the delay, just having some technical issues also waiting for my trustee co host to join. I think she's having technical issues on her end as well. But we will crack on with the program because we've got a lot to discuss. We've got Farren and Andree waiting in the wings patiently as well, so we're going to We're going to get going and as soon as Angie can come on, I am certain she will join me. Pedro as well, is out today,

so I'm on my own. Never a dull moment in radio, and I think he's out to an event. So Pedro, if you're listening, still good evening to you, and I hope that you have a wonderful time. So as mentioned as you've seen on the flies, if you have, if you haven't, then we're going to be discussing a very very important topic and will be speaking to antie knife activists far and Paul about life on the front line. Also joining me, as I mentioned, is Andre and Andre you're

becoming quite a regular. I'm gonna have to get you a Talking Point T shirt. You're now officially a part of the team. Not sure if you signed up for that or not, but a really big thank you to you. Huh an honorary member, Yes, yes, we have a few of them. To be fair, we've been sharing t shirt, so anyone who wants to become an honorary member please let me know, hit me up,

you know my digits. But also you can contact us the usual way studio at Adventist Radio dot London, or you can text eight triple to eight space hope and then your message and you know. We're also now on What'sapp. It's zero seven four five nine six four two eight nine eight. I'll give you that number again, it's zero seven four five nine six four two eight

nine eight. We also welcome your input this evening. If you've got any comments, any thoughts on the topic, anything that you think would be worth sharing, then please please feel free to get involved. Andre has been asking me how do we get our listeners engaged, because he's done a couple of

programs with us and he hasn't heard anyone come in. And I have said to him that our listeners are loyal but quiet, and so if you can prove me wrong tonight, that would be good, and just share your thoughts. It's a very important topic. It's a topic that Talking Point has committed to bring into the forefront at every opportunity because we do need to keep the

conversation going. We need to keep the issue on the forefront. We cannot and will not stop beating the drum about knife crime and its impact on our community. So before we get stuck in, let me pray, Dear Father, as we are about to discuss this issue, I pray you give us fresh insight as to what we can do to change this awful narrative. Thank you for guests who have taken the time to join us to be part of

this critical conversation. They're going to share their story, their struggle, and perhaps even their strategies as to how we can deal with this cancer that has taken root in our community. Lord, we thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit that will lead the way and guide the conversation. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen and amen, right as promised. Far and are you there? I am I heard, but very faint. Yeah, that's it, that's it. You're coming through loud and clear, perfect perfect

Saron. Thank you for joining us. I met you well I've seen the interviews I'm sure most of our listeners have, from BBC to I t V, to Sky everywhere about this wonderful work that you're doing. But I had the privilege of meeting you, and the circumstances was not ideal, and we kind of had a quick chat about the possibility of you coming on, and I'm thankful that you honored the commitment. I know you're a very busy man, and I know there's lots going on. Even as we are talking offline,

I can hear, you know, conversations happening in the background. So I just wanted to start off by saying thank you very much for taking out the time to join us and to add your voice to the conversations that've been having we've been having on this very important issue. So good evening to you. No believing big shout that I really really appreciate you have me on and

I really appreciate you know, keeping conversations. But you said, you know, I believe that you know without thought that with that conversation there's no thoughts with that force in low actions, you know, So it's a domino effect, you know. Me you no, thank you very much and You're very right. It starts, it starts with a conversation. It doesn't end there, and you're gonna let us know what we can do and what you are

doing. But it certainly can start with a conversation and we're happy to do that and hopefully we'll do more, and you let us know how we can contribute to the work that you are doing and the work that's happening. And it's not just you. There were several people at the at the vigil, and so many young people, so many organizations, and it has to be a collective effort. We know that, we know that it's not one person,

it's not one entity. It has to be a collective effort. And certainly as a group, as a church, as an individual, we must find a way to get involved. So yeah, absolutely, Now I'm gonna dig deep because I have seen a few of your interviews and I know time has always love the essence, So they really start at the crux of the matter. They start at you know, what are you doing? You know

what's the success of what you're doing and all that. But I want to go back, if you'll permit me to talk a little bit about far and the man tell us a little bit about your upgringing. You know, where were you raised, where were you born, that kind of stuff. So, if you permit me, I want to start at a very very beginning, where you born and raised in the UK. What's your what's your heritage, what's your background? Yeah? My parents? Okay, now you've gone

quite again. I'm not sure, can you hear me? Yes? Yes, So my parents I descend, that's from Jamaica. My mom come over here in nine sixty five, that wings Rush generation. My dad's parents are from Jamaica, but my dad was born in the UK. I grew up in partnam my whole life, you know, around the North London areas, from wood Green the Totland back to wood Green into Mars Hill. My life consisted around North London in terms of schooling, in terms of home, in

terms of friends. Okay and yeah, man might bring in like I'd like to explain and kind of go to the word home. You know, it don't matter where you are in the world. You know, you can find someone in the biggest scale, but a home is a home to them, you know, and it's only until you come away from that you can kind of see what you living, like how where you're living and what kind of

conditions you're living in. But at the same time, I just believe anyone that grows up in a certain environment, like they adapt to the environment. They become a part of the environment. And it's easy for younger be influenced into that environment they're forced to live into, and it's a little bit harder for them to kind of like sad step that I said, You know what they say, the kind of life want to live. These are the kind

of people that I want to associate with. And when you're young and when you're naive and you're impulsive, it's easy to just mix around with whatever it seems relevant at the time, do you know what I mean? So, yeah, man, And it's it's the same now, isn't it. Yeah. And I'd like to say that you know, I had a loved me. Yeah, she loved me all her heart, do you know what I mean? She loved all my brothers and sisters, and she always did her

best. And you know what, for where she was and where we grew up, my mom gave us the most comforting love in that life she could understand. And my dad, he was just my dad. To, you know, like a stand up strong man, like you didn't take nobs, like whether it's from me, someone in the street, the police, like he just took no bs. He's just like a solid guy. But with

me, it's like I kind of found myself. Was that my family, like we're so how can I say well known and such a big part of Tottenham that it almost came with like how can I say an expectation of how we act towards other people or the disrespect that you would take, the disipect that you wouldn't, you know. And because I was good in the school as well academically, I did my thing man, you know what I mean, Like I didn't struggle in school, my reading, my writing a one

like the coursework was doing it. But I still passed my GCS. You know, I held the truth. I went when I was in year nine, start to do my gcs. Don't help this stuff. Yeah, when I was doing my gc c S, I actually got in trouble. I was in probation. I never went to my probation. So I'm going to tell you young people that if you've got probation, understand you just skipped jail.

Yeah, and work with your probation officer, because if you do mess up with your probation officer after going to court, you probably end up in jail. And that's what happens to me. Yeah, my probation officer recommended the custodial sentence. So that's the first time went to Joel. I went to Joe in year nine, right, and I was doing my GCSE. I was such a I was a good enough student in school that the teachers

love me. They sent me the coursework to the prisons. You know, I've done my I've done my GCSE courses in prison and I came out and I passed. And that's kind of where the crossroad was because there's a guy. Now. At that time, I was running for England. You know, I was training mo Farah, I was doing the jabbling the Kathline and like I was just that guy. I was so fit, so healthy, Like I'm that guy that would have to meet Alexanda padacen' all that is.

And I have to go to school in the n K Hornsey and I have to put my sister in a W three boss. I run all through Ali Paddy down to the bottom of Thaunsey. I catched the bus with my sisters and I'm there and not even breathing heavy that so ready for it. But that's that was a crossroad because with that there's a lot of guyn on man people friends, girls, regardless that I have my first child young as well. I had my first child when I was fifteen, you know, so

there was a lot of gying on in the process of me. I'm thinking about sm right, there's a lot of letters down on here. Is is that real? And then yeah, I got into an incident where I got hurt, but I was defending someone. One minute. I was defending someone that I after that care daily for and the man is trying to hurt them and they're the female. Okay, So can I stop you? Can I stop? You? Can I stop? You? Can I stop you?

You're going You're going too fast for me because I need I need some explanations. You're telling me that you were in jail at in year nine and these are separate to the issues that you're talking about now, So what what happened? Then? Do you care to tell us? Why? How? How? What? Yeah? Now, so basically, all my little mates I was forty years old, all my mates, they must have ran into some old warehouse place, and the thing about it was there whatever, nothing in

the warehouse, do you know what I mean? It was just like but it went but because we went into the warehouse. So my friends broke into the warehouse the previous day. They've come into the art. There's a building and it's got this nanny. But I was just like some oblivious, that little guy. So when I'm gone there, when the windows are broken, So what I did, like, I like, I worn't no hard in criminal and I was just like going with the floor and I saw a bit

of glass in the window that I needed to go through. So I just took the glass out with my fingers, no gloves, and I just tasted neatly on the floor. Thing. Listen, about eight weeks later, my doors goes in boom barren. You arrested. Yeah, I'm like, what, No, this is crazy. What i't even done? After I didn't get that building there that was empty. I had nothing in a part of milk cottons. But it don't know, it's still private proppery. We still

broke into it there, so we got done for commercial whatever. But because of that, I got put in a Probation Service program, and I honestly just felt like, I'll be real, I've got a mindful of language, right, yes you have. It's a Christian station. Yeah yeah, So I just for sud probation man, like you to tell me if you don't really care about you, man, you gotta just sitting there with white boarding and trying to issue me. Yet you care about mate? And then I

kept missing appointments and then one day that was it. Man. I went to probation one day and as I finished my poem, I see police when there? You get me out? And I looked at my probation officer and he looked at me and that I was like. I looked at him and with my lips are like, f you like that? And then he just turned me back and walked up and then arrested me. And I was like, right, damn man, But in my heart, he's done me day? He done me? Day? Did he like? This is trouble I

worked for in protocol? Do you know what I mean? One minute? So tell me, and remember you've got to watch your language. Tell me what what are your parents saying at this? Because you're saying your father is strict your Mom's at home trying to raise, you know, a family, a respectable family. What are they saying at this point when you've got you've got, as you say, the Feds that you're doing, what are they

saying? Did you tell them that my mom? Yeah? But I told the truth in it that my mom she's just that mumming it that she just always try to huddle you and company you through anything. You know what I mean. I'm just her son. My dad. Like when I say you're strict, I don't mean strict where oh, don't just don't do that like you're strict. Like he's a guy that he was a guy that if after I went out, we've done city stuff, like like we're in big trouble

for it. Do you know what I'm saying? That big, big trouble. But as I got older, it's like his his reign over me kind of like diminished in it. I'm older, I'm sixteen seventeen and running around the streets, I'm doing bad boy things like that, who you cooking? Do you know what I mean? But it was just a bit naive in it, like to everything, you know what I mean. But at the same time, the relationship with my dad is nothing at the relationship I had

with my mom. You know what I mean. Okay, I've got I'm gonna I'm gonna say two things here. I've got I've got Angela who's just joined us. Angela, are you hearing? Are you? Are you there? I think you're on meat Hello. Okay, I think she's still I think she's still having technical issues. I've got Andre and Andrea. I wanted to know if you is there anything you've heard so far that sort of picked your attention, anything that you want to comment on, Please feel free because

I am. I'm taking on board what Barren said, and I don't think his story is different to so many of our young people, particularly in sort of what he'll call the ghetto areas or you know, hard or rough areas, which is more or less London if you, if you ask me. But I don't think that's a story. That difference differs to so many of

our young men. And it's unfortunate because they do get themselves caught up into things that maybe they're innocense, so the naivety doesn't really present the true consequence to them. And this was Paran's parents. As you're saying, this is what happened to you. But it was a real it was a real eye opener, a pivotal moment for you. I have a question. I'm not asking. I'll ask you know you decided if you answer later on or not. But with with what a young boys in particular are dealing with in the

streets and what's happening. I was listening to a podcast or a channel just this week. Funny enough, we're funding for certain sports and development in sports is just diminishing, and all kinds of excuses of being given way funds and not. For example, the guy that was specifically talking about basketball for example, it has been shown if you put funds into into developing and training on people in sports like basketball, for example, it actually diminishes the amount of

time associated in that community. And yet the body that's responsible for giving funding was saying, for basketball for example, that is too niche a sport for them to put the amount of money in that they're being asked for, which was ridiculous. But my question is this. You mentioned that you were very athletic, you were running for England, you were training in that direction.

How much of that was protective? But you not getting into trouble or did it not make a difference, And do you think it will make a difference now with the young around you know it is. It's just like it's kind of like I'm going to ask that question, but I want to go back to the previous for what she were saying about, you know, young people.

But I was gonna say to you, like with me, I feel like they see, I'm a person that had a big family of four older brothers, four younger sisters, a dad, mum, cousins, you know what I'm saying, And I just felt like I didn't need had associates. But deep down it's like when it really came to crunch, I had my brothers there. So I'm just gonna say that for someone like me, although we all may be grown up in the same kind of environment, my family's

big. I had to keep up and speak to you know what I'm saying, with his friends, with his fires together, whatever. Some of these young cemen in the street, no one, It's just them and their mom, do you know what I mean. It's hard, and that's why they start to embrace the outside world and the outside gangs and consider them family because that's their brothers. That's their protection, that's their friendship, that's who you

can relate to them on certain things. That's if they can send pictures of girls to and go back and forth with if you can't do that in the house with just you and your mom or just you and your little sister, do you know what I mean? So they kind of start venturing to find like the misvoided, the misboys that they've got. And then going back to your question, Andre and regarding athlet you, No, I just felt like it was my age and I just felt like I was just a bit immature

and naive to my talent and to where it could have got me. You know, I was like really really doing well. Like the javelin world record was ninety meters. I was throwing sixty five meters at the age of fifteen. You know, I would right sub eleven at the age of fifteen as well. I was really really ready. And what it was, It's like I just never knew how to have the maturity and the drive, and I must say I never had the proper guy then to keep doing what I need

to do this. You know, I believe guidance is very important and not just like like, I don't never name anyone that was a part of my life or my family and say that I've got that they should have done more, but I would learn from that. And that's why with my children from this young age here, my children are doing so many sports that I've got my sons doing jiu jitsu. I've got them doing everything, Zion, zaying a minute, Yeah, I've got my fun doing jiu jitsu, they're doing

stage, stage coach, They're doing swimming, they're doing tennis. I'm putting them through all these sports. And if you feel like you've got any desire to follow them, then that's it. Zion, what's your favorite activity? Singing? Like you you're singing yet? Yeah? Thank before saying so that's what I'm saying. That's on there. His favorite activity singing, and that's his dramas, you know what I mean. And and these are the things

zaying, what's your favorite activity? Son? Yeah? Would you like to do the best that wold activity? You know that you know what you want it when you go to skate, stage coach, basketball, jiu jitsu, which is your favorite one? But what's your favorite thing you'd like to do? Art? Drama, gymnastics, swimming, what's your favorite one? Swimming? All right? Yeah, So as I'm saying, that's what I'm saying.

It's so important for these trucks be doing this and when they start to find something they love to do and they start to build their body, their physical structure. But you know what happened when these kids get to a certain age, right, yeah, and they need the money, mother's comfort, right and mother's feeding and looking after. They can turn out and start having a bad diet. You can start eating all so starts a food right. You can just be doing stuff and living in a wave right there where your

life, your body physicily diminishes. Your sitting there and you're smoking weed, you're having intercourse at a young age, you're drinking alcohol, you're staying up late. Mate. These guys are getting to fifteen sixteen, and they bobby stopped growing, right these young children. You keep a young child in in sportsount of time. They get their physical games from it. They feel better in themselves, they look better, they get skills, they build their confidence.

My son know that. But I know by the time my son's a certain age, they to be self sufficient. In jiu jitsual skills. I know, my daughter, we're about to swim, you know what I'm saying. And these are life stills because I went to Spain three years ago and one of my sons may be drowned in the war, right, and the lifeguards stood there in shop at the war. I do under Steve Wow, I would, And I'm just saying, right, that's a skill though. You know, if I never went to my first day training course, I'm

going to know how to do CPR on a child. I know the ratios and the force to use, and two things instead of a whole pump, you know, and the mauth mauth S doctation attorneys head to decide and clear the airway, these little things, you know. And I just feel like it's really important the children have skills because at the end of the day, when they've got skills, they can get a trade or they get a job. And when you get a trade or a job, you get finances from

it. And when you get finances from it, you don't want to lose your finances. That's your life. But if these young children go into the street and they start finding finances, industry ill games, right, They're never going to understand and going to work for fife hundred pounds like before tax, get your money when they can be getting a grand the week, come up

the road. You know what I'm saying. But it's hard for a young persons to differentiate the consequences and the longivity that comes with selling drugs and getting your career at you know, so kind of put a stick stick up in there or put a pin there. I'm going to take a break, play a song because you've you've happened on something that I think is very crucial,

the fact that there needs to be guidance there. The needs to be structure in place, and it sounds to me that you've got that balance right with your one more thing though. Yeah. Sure, the structure needs to be replicated in every place that these children are, and that starts from a whole to the school, and then to the youth centers outside of that, and then to every day life of them interacting in the street, parties, friends,

part understands. So everyone needs a bit of guidance. And that's what I'm saying to you, mate, What your son is going at to your his friend's house, Well, listen, mate, make sure you know where the house is make sure you've got the parents' number, and make sure you've got when your phone, son's phone goes off and you can't find him. You know where he is, do you understand? And it's just little thing that that communication that to save your son's life. You know where he is,

you know where to go and get him from. You know. I love that. I love that. JJ. If you're listening, I didn't say it right. We're going to take a break and we'll be right back. Before I knew my name, before I drew a breath, he was making ways for me. Now and every day, in each and every step, he's making ways for me. When my heart is full of doubt, feels like faith is running out. I've come too far to turn around. I know God will work it out. God we'll work it out. Worry,

I know, wanting not fa God We'll work it out. Oh is he wa? They were coming agether pushing past? If he's fighting to believe, he's making ways for me and he won't let me down. Never relity, He's still making ways for me. When my heart is full of love time it feels like he is running out of cons you to turn im No, lo, God will work. God will work out. One thing, not one thing not found Warner. God will work. God will work up. God will work. Want me, want me fa, God will work

out. Oh, be encouraged, being couraged, be encouraged. Oh be still my soul, be still, and no me say come ye God, h be still my so be still and no say in God bes Maverick City one of my favorite groups. Sure yours as well with God will work it out. We're back. Lots of conversations still to come. We're back with

Farren, Andre and Angela is in the house show finally connected. Long mate last and you jump right in. You had a question everyone, So I was listening in so Baren, I wanted to come back to what you were just saying with regards to sometimes people doing things without really thinking about the consequences. And you spalked a little bit about you know, how the parents roll

and what you can do. Did you and your friends ever talk about the kind of consequences of some of your actions in a sense of like you've talked about, you did a lot of activities. You were very athletics into sports, so you've potentially had a very right freature in that respect. But then you still got caught up in doing things, and obviously there was a consequence to that. But was it ever a topic of conversation something you spoke about

to sort of saying you could make different choices at all? Well, at that time, when you're young, you're not even impulsive, and you feel like the world's in front of your feet and no one could tell you anything, So once it can you guys? Yes, yes, yes, So basically back to your Christian angel, are about talking about consequences as a young

person. No, we didn't, but we spoke about the consequences where it's too league of consequences, right ask yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, And that's what happens in it because memory it's like this when you're young and you haven't experienced certain things, it's just it's just a young man just doing what we want, like you want. When you want to understand a consequence, how can you think about a consequence that you've never been a part of.

How can you think of a consequence that no one's coaching has ever really been through? Do you know what I mean? At the age of fifteen sixteen, no one did Joe for a long term sentence is no one's really got hurt acting that because member, if you go back fifteen years and you're in school and stuff, it's just like it's school energy, school friends running around doing this, doing that, you know what I mean. So so no, like we didn't speak about the consequence. But I believe with maturity

and growing up, that's when you start to consider your consequences. Yeah, I think the reason I asked that, and as much as I kind of I asked the question, I almost had the answer it maybe just think I used to work as a youth worker, and you center, I've round projects where sometimes I'd be addressing some of these issues and some of the things or behaviors or activities my young people are getting into and actually challenging them to say, do you know what if you did this, what do you think is

going to happen? And for many people, you're right, Baron, they didn't talk about that, they didn't think about that, and you're right, nobody can tell us what to do. We're just doing what we're doing. And it isn't you know, you're young people, you're young. It's about discovery doing different things. But I think sometimes just challenging them to say, well, actually just stop for a moment and just think. And for some it was a bit of a it's an eye opener, a bit of a

revelation to say, actually, yeah, you're right. You know. I'm not sure whether it made any difference at the time, because it's often in the moment, but I think sometimes actually challenging, and I wonder whether parents, aunts, uncles, whatever can play a part in just sort of pointing some of those things out, and if they did, would it make a difference. I don't know. Yeah this question then, y, yeah, I just wrote. But what it is, I just feel like balance and

communication is to be consistent. No like that that we're talking about life fans there, Like we're talking about decades of maturing and growing up, you know what I'm saying. So I feel like you need to be consistent then, and that's why I think it's important for the people to be in children's lives, you know, like you need strong wealth figures, you know what I mean. You need people that's that a young man can look up to.

Because remember what a lot of people understand is that you see a young man, a young boy, his daddy is superhero, right, his dad is the strongest man. His dad can do everything right. And the minute that dad starts to let the kid down or that dad days in a certain way, then it becomes in applicable for the kid to do so too. And

that goes from negative oppositive. Trust me, if you stag in the front of your boxing back every day with your two old son, I guarantee you that that would start hit in the bag because that's what he's gonna do. That's what daddy does right, and then he would just find his love to you know what I'm saying. And if you sit down and just smoke weed a funny a kidded day brother, Yeah, I drink alcohol, bro. Yeah, like you don't be surprising if your kids smoke about to having fifteen.

You know what I'm saying, Because if mommy can do it and daddy can do it, then I can do it. And if my mum and dad did't me do it, then nobody can't tell me nothing. And that goes to the school right the way after the metropolity police is the government. I'm a bad man. Yeah, Yeah, it's not what I say is what I do, isn't it? Yeah? And I definitely agree with your points about things being consis consistent in different environments of different contexts. So ideally

the work should be happening in schools, at home. You've sent church is what have you? Well, there's your Yeah, I don't think you heard the point when I said them, like like it needs to be that the supporting a guy that needs to be replicated in every sect. No, yeah, I have I definitely agree with you more. Yeah, it has to be man because me, if this kid know that home is strict here, but when mommy goes out, but I can bring everyone into my house above

yeah and have a party. The mommy going to be a tomorrow, SI cook in the evening, then that's what they're going to do. Yeah, do you know what I mean? And it's just like these children, they would do what they're allowed to do. They would do what their parents or their people they look up to considered okay to do. And sometimes it's negative. Not actually more times than not, they're not. It's actually negative experience that these young children through that it's okay to be a part of you know

what I mean? Yeah, Yeah, let's let's go back then to your story, because I'm conscious we're got to keep an eye at the time. Let's go back to your story, if we will. You're saying that, you know, year nine probation, you skipped your first sort of instance of going to jail. Then you fast forward a little bit and you're saying that you then got in more trouble later down trying to defend a friend. Is that kind of what happened after? Yeah? No, So basically as I

said in it, family members. They're both females. M Yeah, And I just thought to myself that bro, like, there's no way I'm going to watch a man, yeah, physically try to fight my sister and I'm not going to get involved, you know. That's that's what it was. That's exactly what it was. He just tried to hit my sister fight. He's old at the time, went down there, had a fight on my hands and he pulled it at knife and that's exact and I got stab nine

times, and the exact same thing happened three years. They are nine times again defending my girlfriend at time. And that's what I'm saying. That's just who I am, Like, I'm just a natural I can't help it. I'm a natural protector. I'm telling you right now, that's a boss coming down the road and I'm crossing the road with my girlfriend, and I know to myself, I can push it right away and take the hit. That's

what's gonna happen. That's just me, because anything, it's just how I think my daughter, my son, my girlfriend, bro any trauma of pain that's coming towards them, I'm going to be able to survive it better than would I'm stronger than them. That's just that's just it. I can't help it, Like it's just a natural reaction to me. I can't even help it. I was just head over like that's me head over hills. But so you're you're protective but not aggressive. This is what you're saying. It

wasn't You've not lived a life of aggression. It's just that you are protective. So we're drawing a line between the two. Is that what it is? Yeah, I'm very protective, but I've got morals as well, and I'm like, yeah, I have to bully the bullies in school. You

see the bullies that bully everyone else or give the teachers trouble. My teacher just look at me and wing like, barn, do you know what I'm saying, like I'm that guy, but I weren't a nuisance like that, even though I was in school, no uniform, the teachers allowed me. But because I just had like my respect for the teachers, like yes, sir, no sir, Like you know what I mean, I wouldn't. I weren't just there just bullying people like I've got my work done quick because

I was capable of doing it quick, you know what I'm saying. And then I'm a man that finished the work and last player and the duck out of school to get me. And then I found you can't keep doing this. I know you've done your work, but you can't keep doing this. But like my work done, and you know right now that I've got a baby in the way back. You know what I'm saying. I was to the hospital. This is what I'm dying through all these like crazy little distractions,

you know what I'm saying, lifelong distractions as well. So baby is before the stabbing. Baby, baby baby came before the stabbing. You became a dad before the stabbing. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. Wait when I got stab one of my thoughts was like three four years old. Wow, I remember walking to the hospital and I had all drains coming out of my neck. I had a cafeter in that had trips in each arm and tripping my throat like I was in a bad way. Man, How

are you living with eighteen stab wooms? Eighteen stab wounds? My goodness, amazing, that's god. I have to say. So. I got stabbed eighteen times. I suffered forty percent blood loss. I suffered delayed senship, delayed sension analysis. I suffered nerve damage. I suffered paralysis in my arm. And that's what I'm saying. I have to work back from that. It weren't easy, many of the emotional and physically. I didn't want to be here normal. You understand that. It's the worst I've been. I

must have lost that free for a stone. Yeah, in that period have been sick and that worked good. Yeah. And I sat down and I said, I don't want to be here no more. And I don't want to be here. People following in private number, I said, oh, I heard you're gonna die. He said die. People said I was hearing I was getting all that friends Center. A lot was going on in my personal life and everything. I said, you know, I don't want to be here. I said, I don't want to be here normal, and

I was standing on the ninth floor in a flat. I kept it from the bathroom like I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. And I was like, Oh, that's gonna hurt. No, man, I gotta find a bit away. Then I had loads of tablets and paintless and I didn't study. I'm going to do all of him as well, to take hold of him, and and I must have took up little mad con touch and I felt really sick. I was like, oh, that is long. I ain't doing that. Then I went down to the train

station. I can walking around the train station that I'm going to go to the last station and no one's in the station and I'm going to do that, like that, that's what I'm going to do. And I swear down and then it's like something just came over me. And I was like and then I stood in the train station and I just screamed my whole life wow. I went back to the house. By this time, when I was

in the state, I had metal. I had like a cast of my next holding my next straight because of all the scar tissue and all the rest of it. I had a sling on my arm. I had metal staples guy from my left air the bottom. I left there all the way down and down into my chest, bold across my clabical bone. They took my tenders out of my neck. It was a lot, man, that it is a lot. And I said, know what I didn't? I said, you know what, my mom, Yeah, she's not going to bury

me. I'm not letting my mom bury me. Bro because that there, I know that I kill my mom, that it sold kill my mom said, I'm not gonna let a very me. And the next one, I thought, I'm not gonna let my children explain every time in their life when someone says, where's your dad or whatever? Thought back down that day dad committed suicide. I'm like, you know what, that's selfish. I gotta

find a new route. So you know what I've done. I went to H and V and I bought that CD DMX and I put a number eleven and that song is I'm slipping, I'm falling. I can't get up. Get me back on my feet so I can take up, And brother, I said to God. I went to art course. I bought a little rolling machine, so I can get the mood with my arm back, and

then I've got I can stay up board. And I kept doing sit up and I said to myself because on the ninth floor, I used to keep going on a splight and says, so over the months, I could do one flight, two flats, three bags, and but my arm was still already bad and my neck was bad. It took me three months to strip to SCARTI show out of my neck to get full movement again. Then but

I just said to my my arm was really bad. And I said to myself, like I just if I can ever do a push up again, then I know that it's got and I to try and go into the push up position collapse collapse, collapse, And one day I went into the push up position and it locked in. I was like, oh, I'm gone. That's good, that's good, And then I went to do the push up collapse. Then I kept working, working, working, and one day I went to a push up. It locked in, and I started doing

a push up and I've done one. Then within a week I've done ten. And then that stuff just started, like you know what I mean, it just started building back brother, and I started building my confidence. But I always held them to the fact that if I can do one push up is worth it. But the doctor told me, like one percent of the whole human population's got your body structure. I said, what do you mean by that? At that time, the human population was at six point two

billion. He said, one percent of them. He's got your body structure. That's the Actually your heart raised under sixty beats a minute. You've got a spare he said, you've got extra musclet over your archery. Why he never bled to death, And he said, what do you say? My part was sent a six piece a minute, And I even had a spare nerve underneath my arms that they would take out and basically grind for my next that got cut straight across and the fifth one seven. That's what they've done,

like constructive surgerion. And yeah, man, that's a lot for me, you know. But as I'm saying, like I was angry at first, man, I just wanted revenge. I just wanted to Yeah, that guy, I just wanted to get rid of him. Do you know what I'm saying? And all my brothers want to get rid of him, is what everyone to get rid of him? Like everyone want to get rid of him, and it just took a lot, yeah, like it like it went from anger revenge to like I need a long vty tan yea to make

me. I'll tell you what, man, every time I take a knaugh of someone, I just feel like I'm getting a little bit back at night then and what happened to me to get me? And I just felt like if I would have been impulsive to my emotions at anger, I'll put it be enjoyed right now with the same injuries. Do you know what I'm saying. Yes, But as I'm saying, man, like I just already feel like what happened to me and my life? To me, my life is

more important than a holy social media, every social media. My life is more important than that, you know what I mean? So technically I believe everyone else's life is more important it too, So that's why what I do what I do, I just that in the most modest way, if I can just take one if I can help one guy, Guy and Joe, if I can help one person dying, if I could stop one guy having injuries so bad that he turns to the paraplegic, if I could stop a

month from crying for the rest of my life. Yeah, there's a bonus in it, just one, but anything wants to the bonus to me, Well, I mean, you're alive for a purpose and I feel like you found it. You found it. Yeah, I mean, I've got to get your new soundtrack. Though, I've got to get your new sound Track'm going to send some for you. But the point is you, it speaks

to your determination, your commitment. You're and I feel correct me if I'm wrong, But that also was another pivotal point for you, another turning point for you. You spoke of having one when you were you know, you miss parole. But I feel like this again was another pivotal point where you sort of did reflection and as you've said, you sort of made a ministry out of it. Sorry, sorry, information to go on parole. Sorry, it's my piece and my piece. Yeah, thank you for correcting me.

I don't want to start any rumors, but it sounds to me like that was a pivotal point for you, and you're now saying that this charge that you have now taken on was a result of coming through that and being better for it on the other side. Yeah, man, of course, and it's not that as well, Like when you're young, you don't realize the talent you have. You don't have the talent your friends have friends.

He take a wet f pap Chelsea England made none of us made it because you always he got deported, he got injured, and I got fat, I got stabbed, and you know what I mean. But this is so much wasting, like we're wasting too much of ourselves. Like you're seeing like generational locks. Yea, within years, like one year, a whole generation that of a family could be lost, Like the way the streets are grind you know what I'm saying. It's like it's a bit much, it's a

bit scary. Still, I can't learn. Was there anybody in this transition here that that you can point your finger to and say they were part of the process, anyone who mentored, anyone who's you know, talked you through it. Yeah, yeah, of course. Like if we're talking about immediate people, yeah, that's my family of my mom always yeah, yes, But if we're talking about that's what I'm saying, it's important to have people

outside of the house. Because there was a woman called Nadan being bowling, right and I tell you she that woman there, man, it's like she was just different from any other teacher. She listened, she helped right. And you know what my other coach, mister waff Right, he was my javeline coach. But you know what, I looked up to him so much and my teacher so much that you know when I got stabbed and had to leave training. I mean I hid for my teachers for five six seven years.

Wow. I didn't want to see them. And you know what, you see when I did actually bring my kids down to that flex and I was then like, he's like, far and throw something from me. He said, throw something and show them. Brother, I couldn't function. I used to function, you know what I'm saying, and meaning wept together about it. By the same time, it released me from not being able to see them because I couldn't watch a flets I was supposed to be in twenty

sixteen, a fleck. I couldn't watch it. I sat down and hold that. I got back in tune to be a part of it. Do you understand? And it took a long time to accept your age that you know what I'm saying. So I'm saying human that if you regret for a young person, they don't understand here how damaging the regret can be emotionally meantity right. And when you get a chance, you need to take it because if you start regretting it and that regrets stays for you, that can be

very damaging emotional amenity right. I'm telling you you need to get your If you get opportunities, do the right thing. And if you know something's wrong, don't do it either, because it's not only regretting not achieving what you could have, the regret of getting in the position that you should have as well. Yeah, and I think thank God for people who are able to sort of support you, to counsel you, to mentor you. And I

think that's the importance of having that kind of structure. And as you said, it has to go straight through. It has to happen on every sector, in every in every area, because these are the critical conversations, These are the critical things that have to happen to get young people through some of the things that the mistakes that they make and the decisions that they make. And to be fair, we'll all make bad choices. It's about what we do after. It's about but yeah, you make bad traices, right,

and with bad choices the consequences. A lot of people need to understand as well. Right when you get in trouble with the young men, it's not the end of the world, because that's what happens. They get into trouble and they believe that all over now, and then they thought to propel the level of I don't care, and they start racking up these charges. They don't racking up the problems, right, and then that's when it is too

late to kind of go back with appropriate centers. Exactly what I'm saying, if you like your could get in trouble, You're men are please could get in trouble. I'm just saying it, like, try to let them understand you that there's always time to change, there's always time to rebuild. You know what I'm saying. You always got to be the guy you've got to be. You know that change like it is allowed you, you are allowed to do it. And another thing as well, You see ego, that's

one thing. But I'd say these young people that they're not tougher for ego, they're tougher from pride. Pride like I can't lose his fight in front of this girl. I can't lose his in front of that man. Pride, pride, pride, pride. I can't pay that disrespect right now that he gave me. And I'm know I can't beat someone to go to stab him. Yeah, I'm telling you right now they need to let go of the pride because I'd be real to you. I think I was a bit

prideful when I got hurt. Why would you drive rud of fun by yourself? It's just you and your sister to fight people. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah, but I couldn't let that slide. Do you know what I'm saying? This is much it's a match. I mean yeah, yeah, Andre Angela. Anything you want to add here, any questions you want to ask? He's back, I I think, is oh gosh, the technology today, Oh gosh, he's muted. Yes, I'm not sure because one question I had to ask, Yes, one question I want to

find out. I mean, your your story is amazing, and I think there's a lot to be thankful for in terms of even the way you were created that saved you. True what comes to mind? And I know we've kind of answered this a couple of times already. H I think it's worth doubling back on this. How do we get and it's mainly a young man, it's not only a young man, but mainly a young man. How do we get them to be less pride proud? Sorry? How are we

going to understand? Like you mentioned, it's not the end of the world if you make a mistake. And how do we get that guidance to keep steering them in the right direction. I know you mentioned it needs to be equal at every level, but on a realistic in a real world, we know you're not going to get that on every level. M because we have our young men who don't have that unit at home and that's just their reality. So how do we how do we push back against that tide to help

our young men they a good course? How do we do that? Very good question? Yeah, And if I sit down there and I say to you, I know, is that what to do? I'd be bling to you. But if I did, we have no problem. Right. Remember, there's so many contributing factors, bro, Yeah, problem, there's so many contributing factors that you can that you will need many solutions. Right now, I'm going to say these young people. So I think we need to do the young pea people. We need to make them fall in love with

something. Yeah, you need to fall in love with something. You need to fall in love with a trade, you need to fall in love with a job, you need to fall in love with a girl. Need these kind of things. But these kids don't experience love and Dre They have no compassion. It means nothing to them. Instagram is more important than any emotion they're getting through or any parent that's telling them something in their room. And that's another thing as well. A lot of people sit down and be like,

oh, my son's are right, he's upstairs. Yeah, he's upstairs, but his phone is out anywhere in the world. You don't know who he's talking to, You don't know what he's doing in that phone. Right. So I'm gonna say now, I really do believe that these children, they need to be occupied. Andre the devil makes work for idle hands, you know. Yeah, and you're gonna have these little children running around the

road, yeah, do you know what I mean? So, and now we can get back to the sense that where are the youth centers on dre Andre A child will walk down the road and see William here, bet friend and that Brooks in the same one hundred meter space before they see any youth center, before they see any football team, anything I can't find. They're gambling habit before they find them. And correction oops two for one. We

need for young people to have some sense of purpose in the life. Purpose Andre, if you've got a purpose, if you have a purpose anddre and you know you have a sense of purpose, and how we help them to find that sense of purpose and real challenges? Don't listen to this then, mate, This is where we need to go out in the workshops. This is where we need to go out and put agencies together. Yeah, that

could recruit an agencies. And we need to say to the kids, Okay, you've got a cutting hair, Well, guess what We've got this shop here and allow you to work here. Bro, you get that little boy in the shop. You're cutting ten hairs a day, brother, and getting a hundred pound of day b. He's not going on the road. He's in a real lif He's getting more money than a little twenty pounds draw than he got worry about police kicking his door off, his mom compaining about the

house. Things a weed, right, but give them something to do. You're good at football, okay, come and kick a ball. Oh what you like doing music? Bring the music studio down and write something and let me see it. And they're going to try to pass that to somebody else. You have to let them feel relevant. Un tell you the truth and dream. Do you know the whole working class gets paid for them nine to five. Everyone gets paid. But guess who goes to work from nine to

five and gets nothing. A child? He gets up at seven o'clock in the morning, he gets ready for school, he walks to school, he commutes to school, he learns, he does everything he needs to do. Hey, it's exhausting. He comes home, he comes home to his month for his mom says, oh, go take up your back and do that and do that. And bro, there's no pay cheests for him, there's no nothing. He's struggling at home with work. Nobody's listening to him.

It's a lot. These kids are the holy kids. That's not getting nothing for something. And I know that's how life goes. I know you've got to work to it, but you try to understand. Right now, we'll talk about the cost the living. We talk about hard times. These people want trainers, they want computer games, they want things like that. Don't want to say to you as a parent, is your kid doing good? Is your kid doing something that you don't agree to? Guess what reward it?

Let your kids know you appreciate his behavior. It's all he's gonna do is come a replicated behavior to replicate the reward. Simple. Wow. I could hear the passion in your voice. Far Wow. Yeah, it's a really good it's a really good No. Why yeah, I'm talking from experience. Oh yeah, I remember. I've got five children. No, I've got ten children. Yeah, five boys, five girls. My oldest is twenty two. None of my children's been involved with the police, None of

them. They're all the activities. Who are my oldest ones run their own business? Is the business like and the other one trying to be an entrepreneur. But I've never hit none of my children. I don't shout at my children. It's just an understanding. But don't let me tell you something. Boy. If you think you're to come in the house and you're gonna eat your food and not scape your plate and run water in a bowl, you got to mate. You got nothing that's going to get out of your bed

without making your bed. Coming. But let me tell you some a kid that gets out of his bed without making it. Bro, You know, as little as it seems, he ain't brother. Other things ain't gonna be done either. Because if you're too lazy to make your bed, you've got a sleeping bro. Why are you gonna go and do what really needs to go and be done. Why are you gonna go sit down on a week for use trying to get creditations. Maybe you've got to build them. So

you have to build these kids. Look here, habits for come like people take habits from environments, right, And if you got kids, is just in the house and they can do what they want when they want. And your kid comes in and he's smoking weed and he's doing it with that and he's uncontested. That's his lifestyle. That's what he's gonna replicate everywhere else, even to a worst of degree. But mommy ain't there and it ain't the

family home. So I'm saying you have to build these children how they need to be built. Like my kids. Mate, if you go out, you come back in. They know you can't even come and I'm I had the young kids that the older one's here is sticks the youngest for mate, they naturally go and wash their hands with anti bacteria soap. Do you understand

They know what to do. And it's just building them because I know wherever you are, however you learn to live, if that becomes your normal nature, then that's how you're going to go and to live in your life. Understand. But it's my job to guide you to live proper. It's my job to understand, understand hygiene, understand wrong on right. So let you understand empathy, understand. And I said, man, I will do my best that I can for my child and I'll talk to them the best I

can understand. And if I've got to say some listen, you're not getting your iPad like my kids. They can't have the iPads on the weekdays. Hmm. And it's not because it's a reason why I need to show them that in life you can't get what you want. Every time you get like that you want it to understand and in the weekday, if you're doing iPad, why are you want to do your homework? You know, it's just a little principal, little moral that you put into a child and they can

grow up and know what's Brian wrong. They can grow up and be have empathy, they can grow up and have hair, they can grow up and have the streets sense. Do you know what I'm saying? But as I'm saying to you that I remember on top of that, every child's different. All my children are different. They've all got their own personalities. He's got a deep boy. He's got a bed. He ain't got a bed. She's chirpy, she's quiet. You know what I'm saying. She cuddles me.

She don't like cuddled my oldest faen. I tell him I love He told you loves me back my second son down the line. He's never said he loves me yet. All he has his love love, But I understand it. I know he loved me. I know he pindes with me. Understand what I'm saying to Everyone's different. Everyone's different, and you've got to try to accommodate. You've got to try to accommodate the guidance and the way you speak to certain people, you know, because not every single person's gonna

understand how you speak to them and what you say. Do you know what I'm saying, yeah, baron you you mentioned you. Sorry, no Ah, No, I was gonna try to talk about now your move into the I call it a ministry, but whatever you wish to call it, you are now responsible for or attempting to clear London Street of knives. How did that come about? We last spoke when you got in the fight, got stabbed eighteen times, and by God's grace your live, you've made it through

recovery, rehabilitation, and you're now sort of active again. You've made a decision, a conscious decision that, because of what happened to you, you want to make a difference. How did that translate into what you're doing now? How did it start? What did you think? Where did you begin? Because I remember I listened to too and let me say, I listened to a few of your interviews, and I remember you said that you then decided to just speak to people, speak to your people, because you Yeah,

that's what it's just to be speaking in it. Because to me, I just felt like someone that's experienced something, Yeah, you can kind of pay from them. Black fencing. I never realized how I got injured. Yeah that I don't really care what the doctor says, I kill what you say in terms of operations, but in terms of feeling that pain and having to deal with it, you don't. You don't understand that. And that's when I found my best friend in life because he had a bad arm as

well. We had a bad left arm, he had a bad right arm, and we could understand each other. Kai learn this is hi. Your shoelaces with one hand, learning to break it with one hand, learning to roll up tobacco with one hand, all these things. Not being able to play two fer tho my daughter no more. But people just have a dream. People, but people used to having dreams that they're in far as cars and rich, and they wake up disappointing. I do, I don't really

pertaining super than my daughter or swimming and wake up disappointed. Just the people's situations leave them in different situations. Okay, so you you started having conversations with young people trying to trying to discourage them from getting into the position where you were, and what then did did you decide to take it another step further or did you find that that wasn't bringing about the results that you wanted. So I started to that. I did a lot of social media and

it's just me trying to spread like my message to his kids. And then I got to schools as well, and I just remember sitting down in one of them little through units and it's like it was just such a mess, Like the teacher's there. In fact, they cared more about the funding for each student than telling them that they're coming in from lunchtime smelling a weed leaned

up, I'm saying. And I just thought, Row, this is crazy, Like I've seen a whole set of new kids come here, and because these older kids are smoking in front of them, they just inherited that behavior and and they haven't been contested for it. And I was sitting down and I just thought, this is such a mess, man. And I just remember saying that a woman I've worked with, like because with me, when I get a little bit angry, like here's bro careful now, I'm saying

it's angry. Sometimes I get angry to it. And I sat down and the tear in my eyes, She's like, what's wrong with you? And I have watched it like I just thought I could save him. I could save him if I could do better. But I just felt like it just weren't a physical impact. And then obviously coming up when I grew up, like you see these humble nuts and stuff, they're not illegal. They weren't illegal to have in your house. And a lot of people had examples in

house, like even my house. Man, like when I man, you just see ramble less everywhere or whatever, a little lock night. Your brother's got a little slip nights, part fair nights, and I know in the house. But my thing was this. So actually before that even happened, I asked, went to a part. So my niece had a party and part them out, and my daughter went there, and my brother's doing security there at this time, my daughter is fifteen. My brother follows me and

he said, b there's like eight kids at the door. They want to come, And I said no, And it all started listening at the tops, show me summer and machetes. I said, yeah, I've got a couple of boys, got my dogs went down there. Wait listen, man, just like your little boys. Still don't get a twisted in it. So what I've done here, there's all in the house party, so I said, Then so I hold my brother, I said, brother, turning full the lights in the party Mitchell. The lats were off, and what

I've done bus is like a it was like a flats. So I've gone upstairs. So I imagine that from the top of the flats. Yeah that so the door's there. And as I've come out and say it's just say it's like fifteen just say like ten to fifteen meters from the door to the stairs that I'm at. So what I've done, I've left one man at the top of the stairs there. I put another man right there. I put another man behind him. My brother's at the door. And what I

went in and done is this. I went in, I started tugging him out one by one. They didn't realize I was tugging him out. And as I've tugged him out, I've tugged him out his back of this thing and just sped into the next man the next time, saiding there. Before you know, we've got all seven boys outside, all lined up on the wall. Right. I'm saying, bro, what are you man dealing with? And I said, I know your Dad's your dad dismissed. I said I know your mum as well. I said, hell, we're done.

I said, you've got a choice right now. Yeah. I was like, you can give me them things go back in the party and then lease, or I can or I could take them off you yeah, or for your parents. What are you doing? Like, what's your what's your what's your mass? What are you doing now? After that, man that we took all the nice of them, they were in a party, they come back out, I said, you know what, he look bad taking your stuff a few, but I'm not giving it back. So I just gave

them all the tenor reach. Yeah, get them all the ten to reach, sent them in away. After that, I was like, that's interesting. Eight nice to reach. M hm eight nice, eight nice eighty pounds? Whatever's cool? Yeah cool, I'm yes, I said, now, so I done a little video of that, and then that video went really viral. I don't I remember videoderstand this my daughter and I'm like, look

this is where they brought out one knife two nine three nights. And after that, I said to myself, you know what, I kind of want to work on this method here, but I wanted to be that where the children are more boding tree for it. So I went on Instagram and I started tending people. I give them money for their nights and Instagram just shut down my whole program. Damn. But you can't. You can't be talking

about money in line and giving people money. So I was like, damn for real, I said, you know what, m m okay, Saron, let me can I stick up in here. We're going to take a break and we're going to come back to the details of how it got established to the point that it is now. I was listening. I mean, you've got thousands of knives off the street, so many young people and lives that you've impacted. Let's talk about how that journey came about. So just

hold one moment. Andre Angela will be back after this. It is so hard, just trying to forget out, finding out, trying to beliegue, trying to watch the words of the mountain, stay on your own, tarming even on the mountain, high a valley long, Never let your faith go, oh never. I've been there before, So confused, don't know which way to go, hit the stress. We're so crazy, love, stay in a house far trying to rise. Got terrorists disguised. They look like

us, but we know who we trust. Just when I say that we gonna don't, we gonna be alright. Don't tell them we gonna be all right, all right, say were gonna beyond. Don't already bed you're saying all we gonna be alright? Alright, Wow, all right in these fast days, evil times will come in this head day. Look at all the hey, senseless crime and murd day, damn human shaffaking racist, some fool's

brutality. We lead sh Let your king them come and let your listy sun in here, let your glory rise, let your son shine, lenyway to die. You know though the sun in the rain we will shout because we know how the night say it. We gonna heay not this brock is't gon for good, gonna be on, Tom, don't get from me on. I know he was. He ain't gonna back to right. Hey, I ain't worry about him. No, don't you worry about him. I believe I'm receiving me. Worried that he promised me legal feel wrong, Oh jeez

speak, we believe he gonna mel to it. Hey, don't worry about her. He no, No, there's no sleep away night. Just the leader be seeing me. Wa so this your head just here, the worship come here, everything shone on that, Yeah, clown said, welcome back to the conversation. It's talking Point Sturdy stream minutes past year. I was

six o'clock. We're talking to Farren, anti knife activist, and also we've got on tonight Andre and Angela and we're just trying to talk about this as Faren's on the front line in the war against knife crime and we're trying to chop it up and come up with solutions if we can. But at least Farn, you're sharing your experience, you're sharing your story, and it's been

so s enlightening so far and very interesting. Before the break, we were talking about how you know what you're doing sort of took off and it started with a party taking some knives off off some young men and realizing that it could be done. You were doing it for ten each. Are you still doing an exchange for money or is it gotten bigger than that? Yeah? Yeah, So basically on the weapons, they know the price ranges theyday,

but I'll never give them a full money. It don't work right, right, But if you bring that so basically you com with five six, next then you get a decent amount. You come with one that you just probably get a ten band back. You come with a knife for forty pounds, you get a twenty band back, and then when you go to JD Sports you work twenty pounds. Let's to pay for your pair of trainers. Yeah. Love, respect, but I must say before that JD Sports has nothing

to do with funding me. They've never funded me. JD Sports has never gave me one bit about that. Every single I've had this been from my own pocket, donations or deficiated. So can I just ask just to put them on the spot. Have you approached them? Yeah? All right, cool? Noted. So you started with Instagram they shut you down because they didn't quite quite agree with what you were doing. How did the police respond

to these initial stages of the of the of the project. The police were really I'm still experiencing the same things right now the police that I feel like the organization is so big that even though I've been going to the same stations for the last five years, I'm getting it every now and then and they don't know who I am. Wow, and it's kind of weird up. There went kind of police stations and they said they can't take their weapons.

But even bigger than that, I sat down with the one of the biggest chief inspectors from Scotland from Metropolan Police, who was wonder then preceded Dick, a man called James Corbett. And after four or five years ago, after four year of they said they want to put me in a six month weapon pilot. They said, I'm not allowed to tell anyone that I'm working with them, not that I want to do anyway, but it's just a count

the jokes like that. Then they said I've got to have a bullet body armor, first aid k in my car, a phone, an extra person and they also gave me a phone number that bypassed one on one, so I went straight through to the VCS had number. Now that's to ensure safety, is that what? Yeah? So I was three months into that and basically I was out one night. So our three months is that seventy nine in And I'll tell you straight, I've got nothing to hire because you you'll

be able to tell from where we are now. I was that one night. I was in a car and I just come back from a party, and I'll be real to you, I don't know who I thought I was while I took that nine ray and a few shots. Ye, all at one time, but it never went down. Well, so I was in the camp feet frustat and you're going to maybe have to go disclaim go on total yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm just saying regardless of it, like you see me, one thing about me? Yeah, what he

sees, what you get, I've got something to lie about. But anyway, the bomb left is quite in short, so we ain't going to do too much disclaimers. Yeah. So basically I end up getting arrested, right, I getting arrested, But basically I just up. They were batting up the person, the driver on a different way. Yeah, they were batting her up differently. I'm like, a leave her alone, what are you doing? But these men just badded me up. Next thing I know,

I'm in charing Cross Police station, stripped down. Yeah, and it's crazy. Listen to this though, I'll tell the truth. What they've done is so wrong that I'm actually now in the process of a claim against Metropolitan Police for their behavior. Understand a legal strip search. They put me through carrying an aide strip search and then never had to go out to do that, you know, and he knew exactly who I was. And it's just like

that. It was just like degrading, you know what I mean. But right now as you speak, I've got one of the best lissis in the country serving them up and they're supposed to get back to me from three months ago with a certain month off and they haven't. But the only thing I'm saying that is to show you that the reason I got arrested it clearly weren't justified. Yeah, no, but any but that leads to the point what

I'm getting to. So I was three months into the weapons pilot. Yeah, so they've asked me to do to wear a body armor, to carry a nut, safety and weapons tubes, to have a first day to drive with someone. And the thing I said that, okay, I said, is it? So have all your requirements? Is there any of these things you can help me with? He said, no, what I get some weapons tubes at least to carry them safety he said he ain't got none in

stock. I'm like, damn, this is the most sophisticated police force in the world, England and I can't get weapons tubes. So right there and then I feel as if you do a failure. But how can you have so much requirements? But you know, and I'm doing it. I'm bringing the next to your stations, but you're not doing anything, yeah, to compensate it or their help, But you know what I mean. And that

night I was that same night the party I came from it. It was it was a well known person's party US and I was speaking to him. He was like, bro, like, you've been doing it for four years, why should you do it for six months of your life? You know what I mean? They should be supporting, And yeah, man, they're

not supporting. But they always call me in to have these seminars in front of police officers and one hundred and fifty peace officer to sit down and talk about stop and search and what we can do for weapons connections with all the rest of it. But it's like they're not really pushing. And I just said, wondering it if I was a different nationality, that would I have a better response. That would have yeah, a better response, you know

what I'm saying. But at the same time, I tried to man, I just kind of do what I'm doing anyway, Sorry, I would you say, brother, I just want to comment to that. I mean, the sad reality is we are rere of this. This is nothing new, nothing that's going to go in a hurry. Systemic racism, yes, it's there. It's partible reality. We can't get away from it. So I'm

looking looking very for solutions. But you know what it is. That's why I don't really go back and forth with them too much, because I know, no matter what you don't say, you see the red tape that comes with working. If you don't, I ain't got it. I can go where I want when I want. Yeah, you don't trying to turn. I can't pick up guns, mate. The next time, when I picked up a shot gun from Bristol, I don't care. You can't tell me that. If a young man followed me says he's got a gun in twenty

eight bullets, I'm guying for that. How are you going to tell me guying for that? So when I went to Summer to Avia and Summer said anyone, I had to guy in the car phone the police, give them a registration, give them an eighty eight phone. When I got there, picked up the weapons. Follow when I picked up the weapon, and then go and drop and go to a police station. I told the police to leave the boot open of an unmarked car. I just went to the car,

drop the shotgun and singing it then somed me break it down. And then I just see armed police is sitting there in the X five burying them with their big guns because they have to go and kay the gun and make it safe. You get me. But even then, like I swear to you, I just felt, no, how can I say, what's the

what's the word? A little bit less to the appreciation that just that I'm not saying you gotta appreciate me, officer, but that acknowledge that I'm doing something that I They looks in their faces was like, who do you think you are? This is listen. The reason why I kind of try to highlight this point is that we can waste a lot of energy kind of lamenting the lack of support from certain manners of society. That's a waste of energy.

Yep, that's not going to change unfortunately. So the solutions need to be found elsewhere and continue the effort because we know the difference it will make the lives on the streets and homes. But like that that that that thing I mentioned earlier about basketball funding MM. The reason that they said they couldn't give them the funds to support basketball training to help reduce crime in the community. They said it was too niche a sport, it's a black you know

what it is. But let me finish. No, no, no, no no, let me let me finish it. Let me finish it. However, sports like equation as in riding horses, canoeing and and what the other support was got more money wow, in a millions, as opposed to basketball, which is a much less niche sport, but maybe a sport that you have more ethnics involved in than the other side of society. So again I don't know, I'm not saying necessarily need to harp one about the lack

of support. That is where we are. That's not changing anytime soon. So the solution that we need to look for from a church standpoint, for example, we need to offer more for the other people to do that help give them that sense of purpose. And if you put money where mouths is as a church community, we will see more benefits. Yeah and everyone. It's it's quite sim to say it, but it is something that we here

all the time. But the budget of our church communities reflect what we say and what you know, well do you know what, mate, Yeah, I agree, and I do agree that these people need to be resourced to actually do this. When you talk about basketball and they're saying that it's a niche sport, like, forget being niche in it. If you're going to even get ten children to interact with that buptly here and be better for it,

then that's it. I do believe that if that was like, they find that hard to say the same thing about football in England, do you know what I mean? And they find that hard to support soccer in America where basketball is their mainly trade. But either way, any visible project, whether it's basketball, tennis, ball, table tennis or whatever board it is, if young children are engaging in it, yeah, there should be no excuse to funding it or giving it the resources, right of course, of

course, right. And I'm glad that you you're not deterred, you're not put off, you're not set back by the support or the lack of support. That just tell me, no, I'm going to go anyway I'm not. Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And you talk about people you're doing stuff out of your own pocket and maybe jump in the gun for the moment. Maybe that's not the right time, but we might be going ahead of ourselves.

But how do people support you? You know, for the common I mean the lay person, the civilian, you know, the person who's not as brave as you are. How can we help you in your efforts? Well, there's many other ways, you know, like everyone like like everyone got their own attributes and they've got their own skills, you know what i mean, Like if you're good at admin or if you're like there's just many

different ways. Like if you are good at social media and you want to share your message with social media and you're better at working through social and in person, then that's something you can do. If you're to come down to the youth center, Like we've got a youth center in Edinburgh, right this

building was abandoned in fifteen years. We took this building and now we've got STATED at art, music studios, we've got STATED at art, podcast rooms, games rooms, everything, and this building was something that that was about to be demolished, you know, and now we've had up to one hundred and eight children a day going for it, benefiting from it, beauty courses

everything, you know. And I'm just saying that it's just so important to have these spaces because when you've got these spaces, you can interact with these children. You can see them in their physical You can see a child come in and they might say that okay, but you can tell them, like the way they're sitting down in the chair, isolated, head down, rubbing their fingers that what's wrong. Man, talk to me and you find that problem and you saw it out for them, and you know what I'm saying.

So I just feel like it's really important to have them in the physical being like next to us, talking to our sealing us. You know what I mean? And I think Andre you you mentioned it. This is I mean we as a church, we've got several thousands of empty buildings across the country. I mean we use them on a sabas, but there's nothing to stop us opening the doors and there's nothing to stop us putting studios and whatever it might be in there that the young people can utilize it and comes through

the doors all week. Like if you don't got buildings, yes, when I say to you, yeah, buildings and open spaces, yeah, safe space with the right programs going in there are detrimental for a young person growing up for the better that's detrimental. That's it. That's it. Yeah.

So I'm going to say to you, if you do know anyone that has them places, please do let me know because I'm telling you, if I can get an open space and it ain't got to be every day of the week, If I can get an open space for two days a week, or even one day of the week, we will have children, you know. Yeah, Yeah, I have to ask this. I mean I've been wanting to ask it from the beginning. Aren't you scared when you go out there? I mean you're doing You're going above and beyond you. You're not

just having a conversation. You're not telling them Okay, put a box out there, drop it in it, and go about your way. You're getting right in the thick of things. Are you not worried? What makes for one year? I'll be so real to you. Yeah, I'd be so so real to you. It might sound a bit weird to you, but I do really believe when the creator put me together, who kind of forgot that fair ingredient in me? That's what you forgot to drop in me.

And sometimes it's good and sometimes it's back. But at the same time, It's like I feel like due to what I've been through as well that my heart bringing and even what I've enjoyed physically in terms of injuries and being stabbed, I feel like one or two things happened to you. When these things happen to traumatic, you either go into a shell or you go out loud, you know. And I just felt like it once I found myself again, it was a propeller for me to be loud and proud in what I

believed in the push get put sick please. Yeah. So yeah, man, I just really really do believe that, you know, I don't know. And I feel like the relationship I have with the people that I do communicate to take the nswer of them, it's like it's all from a good place. I don't message you. You message me, you know what I mean. Like your your message you when you get yourself into the situation or you feel like you're in more deep than you can handle, you know what

I mean, and you message me. So I just feel like my things such like that it's got such good neutral energy that that that bad energy of fears are in there because it's just a good thing, you know what. I'm saying like, it's just maybe I've been doing it for so long as well, it's just I've never had an incident. No, it's never been rest no one, you know what I mean? So how many how many how many guys last time? Last time? Sixteen and forty one? Wow?

And that doesn't God, Etceteraky like ten fighter AUMs. Some are replicas, some are converted, some are even just blank pistols. But the thing about it, what people understand is you get stopped with a blank pistol in a public areas. Getting done is imitation firearm causing number of distress? Do you know what I'm saying? That they can land you in jail? Right, Angie, you had you had a question that we were discussing in the break about what's next for Para? Are you still there? Is? She

is that she hold one moment now? So Angie was asking you, Farn, what's next for you? So one of the projects that you have on thego, And I asked it before and I think maybe you miss interpreted. But how can we how can we assist you give towards the cause? What do you need and how can we provide that? If if it is possible, what are you doing next? Right? I hate the truth here. So I've got a youth center. Yeah, and it's actually like a progressive

thing. Nothing like nothing can speed up, you know. We've got like we're doing the work. We've got the people doing it. We even got the young people they as well. But I do aim, yeah, to have one hundred people, yeah, eighty men, twenty women that committed to the streets. Yeah, from eight o'clock in the morning until when people go home. And I need ten vehicles that I'm basically I'm trying to build a fleet of vehicles with one hundred people that's able to go into the hot areas

and the problem areas be outside the schools. Tell them, young people, you're not supposed to be here. This ain't your school, do you know what I mean? Just to be that deterring, Just to be that prevention, you know, before it gets too late, right, and really work with the people. So that's what I'm really doing right now. And we've just finished building the studio bus as well. Studio buses stuff we also use for the children is quite good and gay when we're going to the schools.

So we brought X Council us and we stripped, ripped it all out to the stairlift of fit and everything that the wheelchair lift of the back, and we converted into like a proper fund from mobile Studio and it's a big hit. So I just keep like, I'm like, I'm always got my head to the ground. I'm always trying to look for the new innovative way to make these children engage. And yes, so right now it's just basically sorting

at the vehicles. I tell the truth. What my biggest problem is right now is that my travel capability because I'm getting collections from here all up to up North Birmingham, Manchester everyway, and I can't do it. I just ain't got a car. So that's why I wear certain things right now. I do the closer ones and people help me. But right now I'm trying to get a proper van that would be able to be converted with my dog

section in the back extra protection. And also I'm going to convert I dropped box into it so young people can drop the nicing from out side without no one having to get out of the ban as well. It's just up the level of safety. Just help, yeah, you know what I mean. And then yeah, man. So I'm just trying to put little things in place to that, just to get a bit more lack, a bit more functioned and then yeah, man, that's what it is right now, just

trying to get some resources. Do people do people give to you? Do people give to you? Sorry? Do people give to you financially? The charities that support you? Can our listeners support you financially? Is that what you'd need? Or I'll tell the truth. Sorry, when did you say your last question? Again? I'm asking you. Do people support you financially? Individuals, charities? How can people do so? Is it connecting with you on social media? Or I've never Basically, I'll tell it you.

The community have been very very good to me. And I'd say that in the fact that my girlfriend me has accumulated twenty two thousand. Wow, but it's been over five years. But it's been years, five years and if you really check it, it can cost like to fifty pounds per collection. Yeah, and I'm talking like just going to giving about throughout ten twenty pounds

putting petrol. I can't feed myself and if I'm with anyone else, the things that happened for them, you know, so like I'm saying, yes, twenty two pounds sounds a lot of people, but quickly and o perad of time, and then I'm very grateful it just Elbow and his team. They supported me with a small donation, but that was three years ago. And as I said in it, if you just do the maths and you really work out five years, twenty grand, that ain't nothing. That's not

even a minimum wage, do you know what I mean? Yeah, there's a girlfund missed the same time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, my girlfund me is active and I'm really appreciative of people that please support it. And yeah, I'm just trying to basically get a vehicle. Once I get my vehicles sorted out that can accommodate me and a decent number of people

that we can go on the road. That's not going to allow all the allow me to do collections, but it's also on the allow me to do patrols in the school that I don't know, if you know, I want to say big shout out of respects as well respect rebellion, like either really a close friend of mine who does a lot of groundbreaking work. Gang Night Gang Unite stand for guiding a new generation. I have to say, big shots them as well. And another set of people that we all work together

is the street fathers. But what it is, it's just that we do roads. We'll be out in Credon from eight o'clock in the evening to two o'clock in the morning. You know what I'm saying. Just do what we need to do to help. And there's people that talk, and there's people that walk. And any single person I said just there, they're walkers and are really really really respecting for him. Now. Fantastic, fantastic. Wow. I feel like I've been educated today andree an sorry joint some more education.

The quick one to hear one this year. In two thousand, the government said they wanted to roll in the offensive weapons legislation, but they ney've actually got to roll the offensive weapons legislation into twenty twenty right now, that offensive weaponation stage. Yeah, the story is no longer allowed. As you see, we've still got people buying weapons as for weapons even worse than twenty twenty. The whole office year done a weapons admnasty by the weapons that hold

it after three months. Yes, I heard that, but when I looked at it, when I look at the weapons adnosty. I quickly realized this ain't for the children and the community. This weapon is for the retailers. It's for the retailers before the offensive weapon legislation rolls in three months later. And if you don't want to get all your reprimands and all your money back,

you for your stock. If you come in the police station and you feel out you're fourteen I mean two pages of two forms, right and produced, don't They'll produce two forms of ID fill out a fourteen page conversation form and provide your receipts for purchasing it. Then you can get compensated. I quickly realized to think for the children in the community. This is for the

people. I've been setting the nice into the community, right and now the government's giving them a chance to get their money back before the legislation comes in, you know. So it's just all a mess. That's a big mess. That's deep, all right. I'm going to ask Andre and Angie if they're there, if they've got any final thoughts or questions, and then Paran I'll come back to you for your your final word. No clue, I

guess, and thank you. Baron I know I've been kind of gone off due to technical things today, so thank you so much for sharing your story today. I guess if I was just to say, there was one thing you would want to tell a young person, you know, and again you know, education with this to start from a very young age in terms of in terms of their future and what have you. What would you what advice or what words of wisdom would you share to them to say, do you

know what? You have a choice? That's it. I'm not going to come out of no lengthy, dramatic emotional speech. Younger. You got a trade, right, so do not let the circumstances of your of your area or where you going up here to find the person you're going to be Okay, you have a trade and it's up to you to make the right trait and if you make the right trade, you get the right results. Simple

yeah, yeah, yeah, now, I agree, I agree. I guess it's just how you can help them see that, because you know, with you know, we talk about the environment, we talk about what's been happening in the crisis. You know, it seems at times seems very bleak, and if those positive thoughts aren't being fed if they're not being fed, there's that positive thought or the idea of hope and what have you. It seems to be difficult to kind of get through. But you're right, you

know they have choice. They do have choices to a degree. So what right in front of everyone is social media? Yeah? Like you want to see more people on social media, like watching from older to younger people. Why I'm gonna read the newspaper if I can go and land and see everybody to see. And that's the thing. The general direction and the influence that social media has is more negative than positive. That's what the problem is.

Research if you do your research into that TikTok in China, Yeah, it's different. All the young people are talking about entrepreneurship and minions of how to make businesses. It's all fun. The UK is this stuff stabbings, craziness, chefings points. You understand, And I'm just saying, bo Yeah, it's easy for your own child like solve into the environment they're in. It's easy because right now badness is glorified. It's good to be a bad man.

Yeah, yeah, I think that's right said. That's a whole there's a whole other show I'm gonna have to love believe you. Guys. Yes, thank you so much. Fun. We appreciate it, We appreciate everything. Person here man Angel. We can catch up somewhere. Miss if you if a my number, like by all means, send it to me. I will do. Thank you. All the best to you and your family far and thank you. Wow, gosh story and you know what send me. You're so right in terms of the education, because yeah, there's a

lot that I learned. There's kind of bits that you kind of know a little bits about the ideas of stuff, but you know, coming from experience and everything else. Yeah, it's a powerful, powerful testimony. And as you say, God has purposed him to do more, He's been given the opportunity to do more, as she said, So yeah, thank you so much Bear for sharing. Absolutely. I mean it was it was full, it was packed, and I know that hopefully we'll be able to podcast this

and share it again. But an amazing story and amazing testimony. And it is God, whether whether he says it or not. And I'm sure he does acknowledge that it is him, you know, all over this his life, his life been spared, his life being protected as he goes in and out. You know, the stories that he tells of his kids being successful

and being on the right path. I mean, it could have gone any which way, but we praise God for his life and we just ask him to protect, protect Pharaon as he continues to do what he's doing and his team as well as well. Andrew, any final words, are you willing to close us out? Are you there? The only thing that I was really thinking that I'm I'm thankful for the Everyone has their their ministry, they're calling it administry. I'm thankful for the ministry and what he's doing. It's

making a real impact, and we can all have an impact. May not be in the same way that Parignet is, but we can all have an impact in our own spares. How much difference to you one tebble dropping water. We don't know how far the report goes. So even have just an encouraging word to let someone know, you know you can do. You have so many options. You don't have to do this. Or I acknowledge the young person's talent and encouraging them to develop it, or even helping them to

try to developing their talents. Whatever we can do to encouraging the pole because we know some must more than others know. It's a bitter taste of what happens when we lose a life stupidly for something like my claim or along those lines. Yes, absolutely absolutely, do you want to just close us out with a quick prayre sorry to put you on the spot, and then we will say good night. Then thought, we thank you once again for your

patients, your loving kindness, your compassion, for your guidance. You will the spread play that you will continue to be requiring his his team. Will you send those to him that will be at use the guide people off the streets and hopefully guide them to a knowledge of you that prayer you'll be with or compunity as a church community. Deal with the leaders that they too will make the commitments that they can to really help orients able to find purpose,

guidance and that practical support they need. We can keep them probably occupied this station as well, continue to keep their clink on the pulse and keep these topics in the in the air waves that will be reminded of the word that still needs to be done for all these kindness and give us part of it anyway, with us need to come amen, Amen, Andre, your T shirt is on the way. I just have to check with Tara and Pedro that that's all right, but it isn't the way to you. I mean,

it must be done. You've just been so instrumental in the conversations that we've had over the past few months. And I know that you, once you're free, you're always willing, and I thank you very much for that. My God continue to bless you as well, and protect you and keep you and give your family comfort and strength at this time as well. All right, thank you, Angie. Are you here, You're not, you're there? Tell me just oh my gosh, I can see you now,

like at four minutes past seven. Technology, you can't live with it, you can't live without it. That's how it goes, Lucky. It's me that I forgot to say, so, I forgot to say. So what I'm doing Saturday night, praise. So if you're still there, if you want to be with me till nine o'clock, please please keep the dialogue on Adventist really Alion, Yes, good to see you, Agie, good to

see cool. Yes, thank you for listening in. I was listening in even though I sometimes was locked talk about Yeah, it's been a powerful, powerful, powerful show and it's such a humble man as amazing. Yeah, it's just it's definitely really positive today because sometimes as well, it's very easy for us to think, actually there's not much happening, but yet you know there are, and I think, you know, highlighting the work that is being done, even if it's just you know, small pockets here and there.

You know, I think it's really is encouraging to hear that people are still trying to make a difference, even sometimes it feels maybe a thankless task or yes it feels a bit bleak or hopeless at times. You know, the little bits of difference a little bit, the little bits that we keep chipping at it, you know, it can make a big difference. So absolutely, yeah, absolutely, Well I should say good night then thanks again for joining us, and yes for sticking with us through the technical issues.

I'm certain you were encouraged by the conversation, you were enlightened by the conversation, and we look forward to another edition, hopefully next week, but we'll keep you posted for now. It's good night for me, son, Yes, good night, Brandler. That's it. I'd bless you and have a great Adventist Radio London. Inspiration for the song