A single decision that can end in tragedy

CHIEF PROSECUTOR SPEAKS OF THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF KNIVES

- STEPHANIE BALLOO

ONE of the most alarming aspects of knife crime is how quickly it can descend into tragic consequences, according to District Crown Prosecutor James Francis.

The Birmingham Mail interviewed Mr Francis to talk about our Deep Cuts project, a three-month investigation delving deeper into knife crime in our city.

Mr Francis works for the Complex Casework Unit and Serious Violence, Organised Crime and Exploitation (SVOCE), tasked with tackling the underlying causes of serious youth violence.

The unit works with police to disrupt criminal networks targeting and grooming young people into violence, drug supply and other offending.

Fear, peer pressure, gang involvement or exploitation are some of the reasons Mr Francis says knives are carried by children, who often have difficult home lives, trauma or have been excluded from school.

As a Crown Prosecutor, his work involves:

■Reviewing evidence which has been provided by the police.

■Making charging decisions.

■Preparing cases for court.

■Working closely with the police and other agencies to support victims and witnesses.