Community Comes Together to Tackle Serious Violence in West Yorkshire

As the community in Horsforth, Leeds, mourns the loss of 15-year-old Alfie Lewis, who was fatally stabbed in November 2023, his aunt Mechelle Lewis is calling for change and supporting the Mayor of West Yorkshire in a major consultation to tackle the issue of serious violence. The consultation, which starts tomorrow, aims to engage communities in sharing their views, experiences, and solutions to help shape a new strategy to reduce knife carrying and prevent youth knife crime. Mechelle Lewis is collaborating with Leeds-based Redbobble Arts on a trauma-informed, multi-arts intervention, Alfie: Forever 15, which combines immersive performance, film, and music created by Alfie's friends to engage students in schools and colleges.

Key Takeaways:

• Alfie Lewis, 15, was fatally stabbed in Horsforth on November 7, 2023, in front of horrified parents gathering to collect their children from St Margaret's Primary School.
• His murderer, Bardia Shojaeifard, also 15, was later found guilty and given a mandatory life sentence with a minimum jail term of 13 years.
• Alfie's aunt, Mechelle Lewis, is supporting Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, in a major consultation to tackle the issue of serious violence in West Yorkshire.
• The consultation, starting on July 23, will feature powerful personal stories, workshops, and discussions to help shape a new strategy to reduce knife carrying and prevent youth knife crime.
• The project Alfie: Forever 15, led by Mechelle Lewis and Redbobble Arts, aims to engage students in schools and colleges through immersive performance, film, and music created by Alfie's friends.
• The community events will capture the full spectrum of concerns linked to serious violence, including knife crime, gang culture, and violence against women and girls.
• West Yorkshire Police and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are supporting Alfie: Forever 15 in its aim to reduce knife carrying and prevent youth knife crime.

Statistics:

• 15-year-old Alfie Lewis was fatally stabbed in Horsforth on November 7, 2023.
• His murderer, Bardia Shojaeifard, was given a minimum jail term of 13 years.
• The consultation on tackling serious violence in West Yorkshire will start on July 23.
• The new strategy aims to reduce knife carrying and prevent youth knife crime in West Yorkshire.

Sources:

• "Schoolboy jailed for minimum of 13 years for murdering Alfie Lewis outside Horsforth school." Yorkshire Evening Post.
• "Mother of murdered schoolboy Alfie Lewis tells court the pain is too much." Yorkshire Evening Post.