FOUR police cadets have produced a film urging youngsters to stay away from knife crime after a teenage boy was fatally stabbed in their borough.

Redbridge’s Mayor and Met Police borough commander joined victims’ families, London Air Ambulance staff and representatives from the Met’s Trident gang crime command to mark the launch of its latest video campaign last night (Monday May 23).

The #ChooseALifeNotAKnife video was shot and produced by Redbridge teenagers Kyle Thomas, Olivia Stevens, Sam Simkins and Melissa Hussain, and features interviews with a victim’s father, an ex-offender and emergency service workers.

The youth cadets decided they wanted to do something to help deter fellow youngsters from carrying knives after the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Charlie Kutyauripo outside Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford Green in January this year.

After pitching their idea to cadet leader PC Kim Gakhal, she enlisted the help of Bancroft’s School deputy head teacher Marwan Mikdadi, who provided the four youngsters with all the equipment and guidance they needed.

He said: “We had no hesitancy in agreeing to work with the cadets with this worthwhile initiative and help deliver this important message to the local community.”

Speaking at the launch event at Bancroft’s last night, Redbridge’s PC Sandeep Gakhal said: “The cadets have worked really hard to make this happen, giving up their weekends and evenings.

“We have all learned a great deal about the process of filming and how sad and humbling it can be to listen to the accounts of those affected by knife crime.”

The 16-minute video includes an interview with Ian Levy who lost his son after he was stabbed to death in Hackney, who also attended the launch event.

Redbridge borough commander Mandy Beacher said: “I am very proud of these cadets who took the initiative following a very sad set of circumstances.

“Their work carries a powerful message for their peers – we need to find new ways of engaging with young people and this is the way to do so.”

The cadets hope to show the video in schools across London to raise awareness of the devastating effects of knife crime.