CNWL Liaison & Diversion Teams highlight life-saving work during Community Services Month

As part of Community Services Month, CNWL’s Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services are proud to spotlight their ongoing involvement in the bi-monthly “No Knives, Better Lives” initiative at the Old Bailey.

The programme engages young people at risk of knife crime across London, giving them the opportunity to hear from experts with lived experience about making positive life choices.

CNWL L&D services have contributed by producing a video featuring a life-sentenced prisoner at HMP Coldingley, who shares their personal experience of knife crime. In addition, the team provides emotional support to children attending the event, before, during, and after the sessions.

The recent session brought together a whole community of contributors, including Patrick Gillespie and Kristian Lane, CNWL Health and Justice Directors, Service Manager Roz Kerr, Service Manager and Gemma Humphreys, Specialist Youth Nurse.

They were joined by organiser Fiona Adler, HHJ Khan, Met Police representatives including PS Craig Martin, and guest speakers Jessica Plummer, Dunia Shafik, and Francis Osei-Appiah.

The initiative targets 12-18-year-olds who are on the periphery of gangs, county lines, child criminal exploitation, or have markers for knives, with referrals from agencies such as the Police and Youth Justice Services. The programme offers young people a range of perspectives:

• HHJ Khan, Old Bailey, delivers a talk about sentencing and introduces Youth Nurse Specialist Gemma Humphreys, available for emotional support.

• Trauma Consultant Surgeon Maryam Alfa-Wali presents the physical effects of knife crime, highlighting how medical evidence can influence legal outcomes.

• Mothers impacted by knife crime, including Jessica Plummer and Dunia Shafik, share their personal experiences.

• Lived experience video recorded at HMP Coldingley.

• Barrister Laurie Anne Power KC explains the legalities around joint participation and enterprise.

• Former offender Francis Osei-Appiah described the challenges of leaving knife crime behind while highlighting the benefits of change.

• Fiona Adler, Former Sheriff of the City of London, provides education and employment advice, as well as guidance on wider support.

The initiative has also created additional community opportunities through charity Onwards & Upwards – Gang4Good, led by founder Stef Jones, who has begun working with the HMP Coldingley prisoner featured in the lived experience video.

Through programmes like "No Knives, Better Lives", CNWL’s Liaison and Diversion services continue to demonstrate the power of community-focused interventions, supporting young people to make positive choices and fostering safer, stronger communities across London.