Mother of Cambridge stab victim James Cromwell backs police knife amnesty
The mother of a Cambridge man who died from a stab wound last year is putting her voice behind a knife amnesty being held by police this month.
It seeks to put a stop to the rapid rise in knife crime reported. Figures released by Cambridgeshire police show that recorded knife crime within the county has risen by more than 25 per cent, which is in line with a national increase.
Between September 1 last year and January 30 there have been 87 recorded crimes where a knife or sharp instrument has been used.
In June last year 27-year-old James Cromwell died of a single stab wound to the heart in Stretton Avenue, Cambridge.
His killer, 25-year-old Abdul Korim Ali, used the knife he was carrying after a row broke out between the pair. He is now serving a life prison sentence.
James Cromwell’s mother, Linda Hall, said she hopes her son’s death will make people think twice about choosing to carry a knife.
She said: “If Ali hadn’t of been carrying a knife then chances are there would’ve been a scuffle of some sort but no one would’ve died and James would be here today.
“Ali’s family might not be able to get their heads around what happened but at least he’s alive and they can visit him. All we get to see is a cemetery.
“If you choose to carry a knife there will be no winners, just losers.”