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LSST students interview Met Police Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing about knife crime

Kunal Chan Mehta

By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 12 November 2019

LSST student Loxandra Goldings (L) and LSST SU President Renata Carvalho (R) inside Scotland Yard with Assistant Commissioner Mark Simmons. Photo: LSST

LSST students were praised for taking part in a knife crime concerns interview with Mark Simmons, Met Police Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing, on 07 November 2019.

Renata Carvalho, LSST’s SU President, and Loxandra Goldings, a Health and Social Science student at LSST Elephant and Castle, were given an outstanding opportunity to visit New Scotland Yard and interview the Assistant Commissioner with a series of thought-intensive questions about knife crime issues and concerns.

Watch the full interview here: youtube.com/watch?v=GkxNc3p9bMs&t=202s



Commenting on the event, Renata Carvalho, LSST’s SU President, said: ‘This is my second visit to Scotland Yard and it is always an immense privilege to question senior police staff on the causes, challenges and concerns surrounding knife crime. We look forward to working closely with Scotland Yard and sharing our anti-knife crime messages with LSST’s student community across the country.’

Loxandra Goldings added: ‘Following today’s event, I am inspired with the work of New Scotland Yard. Clearly a complete-community approach to knife-crime is needed and I look forward to working closely with LSST’s SU to enforce anti-knife crime messages.’


(L-R) Kunal Chan Mehta, Loxandra Goldings, AC Mark Simmons and Renata Carvalho. Photo: LSST

Mr Syed Zaidi, LSST’s CEO, added: ‘We are extremely proud of Renata and Loxandra who have energetically put forward thought-provoking knife crime questions to the Assistant Commissioner. They have conducted themselves in a very sophisticated and diplomatic manner. I thank Kunal Chan Mehta for organising this bespoke event in light of his former employment with the Met Police, Prison and Probation services.’

Further information:

Tackling knife crime is a priority for the Met. Whether you want to find out how you can help yourself, your friends or family you can find practical help and advice here: https://www.met.police.uk/StopKnifeCrime

If you or someone you know has information that may help prevent a violent crime, or help an investigation, but are not comfortable speaking directly to police, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They do not ask your name or trace your call.

Anyone who has information about violence or knife crime can visit www.fearless.org where they can pass on information anonymously. Fearless is part of the Crimestoppers charity and is also independent of the police.

If you need help or information to support someone you suspect is involved in knife crime, or you want assistance yourself, then you can visit www.knifefree.co.uk

Please email the author of this article kunal.mehta@lsst.acor any questions or comments or to find out more about participating in similar interviews.

LSST students, join the debate and comment below: What are your views on the knife crime interview?



2 thoughts on “LSST students interview Met Police Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing about knife crime”

  1. Well done to all involved. This is wonderful and this is very secure place and high profile work. Well done 👍

    • Great job! Let`s ask questions, let`s raise awareness. This is the community`s first step toward an effective response to knife crime.

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