March against knife crime held in Bournemouth town centre

Crowds of people trailed through the town centre on Saturday holding bouquets of flowers and wearing ‘Together Against Knife Crime’ t-shirts.

The event had been organised following the death of 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton.

Cameron was pronounced dead in Bournemouth town centre after being involved in an alleged knife attack in the early hours of Saturday, August 5.

While marchers had different views on tackling knife crime in the area, they all agreed something needed to be done. 

Roman, 3, Kairo, 8, and Aurora, 5, all took part in the march (Image: NQ)

Pascal Groves, who organised the event with his partner Tylah Ballard, said: “I’ve got kids, and I don’t want them growing up in a town where it's not safe for them to go out. At the moment, I don’t feel it's safe for them to be out on their own.

“I’ve lived in Bournemouth for 15 years - it’s changed a lot in that time. Every week there’s a different knife crime or some sort of violence.

“Kids want the protection, and say they feel safer carrying knifes, but then they end up using them.

“It’s scary for the younger generation.”

Saturday's march (Image: NQ)

The march went from the Triangle to the beach, with a stop at the Square so flowers could be laid for Cameron.

• Read more: Hundreds march through Bournemouth against knife crime

Joining in was Alison Shepheard - a friend of Cameron’s mother and grandmother. She said: “Knife crime has been going on for too long now. It’s not just about Cam, it’s happening all around the country.”

Her opinion is that all town centre night clubs should have scanners to detect weapons, and suggested it was a matter of “crowd control”.

Nick Bastable, whose brother was killed by three men in an attack in Bournemouth last year, also attended the march. He said: “I wanted to come down to support the family, but nothing can make it any easier.

Flowers being laid in the Square (Image: NQ)

“I just want to see change. Bournemouth is unsafe. I’m 63 years old and I wouldn’t come down here.

“It’s not just about knife crime, Bournemouth has a big drugs problem and that’s a big part of it.”

• Read more: No More Knives: The stakes are too high to do nothing

Another marcher, Sarah, said: “My son 21 got stabbed in Bournemouth about two months ago. Luckily, he survived, but it was awful.

“And then Cameron died, and I know of his grandmother, so it gets you thinking when you know people.

“I don't know what the solution is but I think the police have every right to search everybody, and they should do more of that.”

The event in the town centre took place as the Daily Echo’s No More Knives campaign to advocate for safer streets and to stop knife violence continued.