The powerful documentary Idris Elba wants us all to watch
It’s no secret that knife crime is rampant in the UK. In fact, an average of four people are stabbed to death every week – but how exactly do we go about changing that? That’s the question Idris Elba is asking – and hoping to help find the answer to – in his upcoming BBC One documentary, Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis.
Motivated in part by his own experiences, the Luther actor and anti-crime activist launched the ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ campaign last January, calling on increased government urgency to tackle knife crime in the UK – and his mission is far from over. The one-off documentary will see him meet young offenders, bereaved families, youth workers and the police to understand why there’s been an upward trend in knife crime – and what can be done about it.
“So many people dismiss knife crime as something that doesn’t affect them, assuming it’s a black and brown urban and gang-related problem - but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” Idris says.
“White, middle class and rural areas are also affected, perpetrators are getting younger and fear is spreading. I hope our film goes some way towards changing these stereotypes and getting everyone to engage with one of the biggest challenges of our time. For me, it’s been a tough year – but I’m hopeful.”
Here's everything you need to know about the new documentary and why it's so important to Idris that we all watch it...
What is Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis about?
In the 60-minute documentary, Idris will look at the causes of knife crime, asking why someone actually chooses to carry a knife, and examining the effect of school exclusions and the influence of social media. We’ll see him meet perpetrators at Feltham Prison and Young Offender Institution, as well as the mother a young boy who was tragically murdered in a case of mistaken identity.
Idris also pays a visit to The Royal London Hospital, where a pioneering programme sees youth workers embedded directly in the casualty department. The programme means they step in to support young victims of knife crime in the first instance, guiding them away from violence.
The documentary will also feature Idris’s meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said that his government would commit to halving knife crime if elected, as well as a special meeting with King Charles to discuss solutions to the problem, along with some of the young people most affected by youth violence.
Why is Idris Elba tackling knife crime?
For Idris, his mission to end knife crime is partly personal. The actor grew up in what he describes as a tough part of East London and, having faced crossroads in his life as a teenager, he knows how easy it would have been to go down a different path. He’s now determined to confront the crisis and make a real difference.
In September last year, he also told Sir Keir Starmer that he hoped to protect his 10-year-old son from knife crime.
“We aren’t going to end knife crime. We can’t, that’s not realistic. But we can tackle the attributes towards it. At the centre of it is obviously young people – my son’s 10, and I’m hoping the work that we do annually, keep pushing, can help him by the time he’s 16,” he said.
"There are kids right now that are 16-24, they're in that cycle right now that we might not be able to help, but with our joined-up thinking we can help future generations."
How can I watch Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis?
Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis will air on Wednesday 29th January at 9pm on BBC One.
You Might Also Like
