'We'll bang the drum that knife crime must stop'

The father of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at a school has said he will continue campaigning to "bang the drum that knife crime has just got to stop".

Harvey Willgoose was killed at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on 3 February.

His parents Mark and Carol met Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Thursday to discuss the blight of knife crime.

It follows an announcement that ninja swords are going to be banned from 1 August.

Mrs Willgoose said the home secretary "wants to work with us", and Mr Willgoose said she "agreed with a lot of what was said".

But the couple want measures to go even further.

"Obviously we're pushing for knife arches in schools and she's not against that, but obviously that's something schools will take on board themselves." Mr Willgoose said.

A knife arch is a walk-through metal detector, but this is something each school would have to decide to introduce and cannot be enforced by the government.

Mrs Willgoose thinks one school will have to be a trailblazer for others to follow.

But for now, she said, education was the way forward.

"I want kids to be educated in schools about what knife crime does to people; what impact it has had on us; what impact it has had on his friends, family; what impact it has had on other children in the school there," she said.

Mr Willgoose added: "We've got to get out there and bang the drum that knife crime has just got to stop.

"It kills families and we don't want anyone to go through what we're going through now."

Harvey's funeral was attended by hundreds of people at Sheffield Cathedral in February, with the service also shown on a big screen outside.

The couple have praised South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard for his support to stop knife crime.

Following Harvey's funeral, Coppard said: "His family's focus on how to help others and keep young people safe in school is a testament to their bravery and dedication to creating a positive legacy from Harvey's death."

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named, was charged with murder, possession of a bladed article and affray following Harvey's death.

A provisional trial date was set for 30 June.

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