The devastating impact of knife crime leaves lasting scars on individuals and communities.
For Byron Highton, this tragedy struck with the loss of his brother Jon-Jo Highton, who lost his life through knife crime in 2014. In response, he channelled his grief into action by creating The JJeffect CIC.
Now, Byron travels the UK, speaking to young people in schools about the dangers of knives. He gives two-hour presentations to show the real harm they cause.
Byron’s work with The JJeffect has directly contributed to a significant reduction in knife circulation in Preston.
Lancashire Police have reported the removal of between 1,000 and 2,000 weapons, including numerous knives, from the streets of Preston and surrounding areas. Byron was pictured with just a handful of the hundreds of weapons which have been handed in.
The weapons that were once a symbol of violence are now being collected and are being transformed into a powerful metal artwork memorial.
Lancashire Police spoke to Blog Preston about the artwork that is being created from these weapons.
They said: “We are currently in the process of working with a firm in Blackburn to create a memorial bench that’ll be placed outside Blackburn Cathedral which will be made out of surrendered weapons.”
Byron has been running The JJeffect for almost seven years.
Byron said: “I got the opportunity to speak to young people and I remember the police pulled me to one side at an event and they said that I should do this as a full-time job.
“Every single day we change lives but it’s not easy we do still have schools that say ‘it’s too brutal’
“This morning, we had a teacher say that in her whole entire career it’s the best presentation she’s ever seen.”
For more information on The JJ Effect visit their website.
