Revealed: The shocking extent of Croydon's teen knife culture

Hitting Croydon's streets as darkness fell with the intention of actively looking for teenage boys who might be carrying a knife was frightening.

But not as frightening as what we discovered – that nearly half those we questioned were prepared to admit they had carried knives in the past.

Five of 11 youngsters we approached confessed to having concealed blades – some having done so when they were as young as 13 or 14.

Our first stop was West Croydon and throughout our experiment we deliberately approached a mixture of black, Asian and white youths.

At the junction of London Road and Heathview Road the first people we approached – two 18-year -old black youths – both admitted they had carried knives between the ages of 14 and 16.

Asked why, one replied: “I was scared. I might not have been able to use it, but you take it just in case anything happens and you might have a chance of defending yourself.

“It's a phase you go through. I never had to use it, but it made me feel safer.”

We moved up to Sandfield Place, in Thornton Heath, where we found two 15-year-olds, one white and one black.

The white youth admitted he had taken a knife out on one occasion when he was 13 but then thought better of it.

“It was stupid,” he said. “Now I think that if you carry one that proves you are just a coward.

“I don't really feel the need to carry one any more. I took it out to feel safe.”

As it was getting dark we spoke to a 17-year-old Asian boy and a 17-year-old black lad in Thornton Heath town centre, who both said they had never carried knives.

One said: “I think it's stupid. I think people think it will protect them but I still don't see the need to carry one.”

Longhurst Avenue, Woodside, pres- ented us with another 15-year-old white youth who said he had never carried a knife.

But at our last stop, in Albert Road, South Norwood, we found two more teenagers in a group of four white youths who had concealed blades before, bringing our tally to five.

The two 19-year-olds both revealed they had carried knives as younger men. One said he 'd carried a lock-knife down his trousers.

“I have only carried a knife a couple of times for protection,” he said.

“I wasn't scared. I was prepared to do something if someone was going to do something to me.

“That was when I was 16 but I use my fists now. I never stabbed anyone.”

He said people who carried knives these days did it for appearance.

“Nowadays people just carry them because they think they're big,” he said.

“It's so bad I'm thinking of getting a stab vest.”

His friend was happy to reveal he had carried a knife when he was 14 but said he had grown up and realised it was a mistake.

“I thought I was the big man,” he said. “It's becoming a joke these days.

“There's no reason to get stabbed unless you deserve it.

“I don't know what the answer is . I don't think there is an answer.”

Sgt Darin Birmingham, Croydon police's youth engagement officer, says knife crime is a concern but believes our experiment makes Croydon look more dangerous than it really is.

He said there were no no-go areas in the borough, adding: “Sometimes we can be called out and can recover a few knives.

“Other days we can stop 50 people and none of them will be carrying anything.

“Not every 15-year-old would walk around the streets with a knife. Not as many do as people think.”

Steve O'Connell, Croydon Council cabinet member for safety and cohesion, agreed that not as many teens would be carrying knives as our experiment suggested.

“In your very limited straw poll, five out of 11 is a very significant number and I find it disturbing,” he said.

“But I don't think that reflects at all the numbers across Croydon.”

But he added: “I think too many young people are leaving home with knives today.”

He also said he wanted automatic prison sentences for people caught in possession of one.