Owen’s World and Police Gauge Community Safety Sentiments

Owen’s World, an organization established in remembrance of a teenager fatally stabbed, is collaborating with law enforcement to ascertain the sense of security among local residents. The group, founded following the December 2022 stabbing death of Owen Dunn, 18, in Swindon, aims to heighten awareness regarding knife crime. Joanne Davis, a family friend and CEO of the not-for-profit entity, stated that a survey initiated this month revealed “not a lot of people feel safe” and indicated a lack of police trust among children. Ms Davis commented, “It’s about finding out why and what we can do to bridge the gap and also finding out what people want to see and how they think we can try and put a stop to knife crime.” Ms Davis and police personnel have been conducting the survey both within the town and through an online platform. The collected data is slated for submission to Wiltshire Police, intended to provide insight into public sentiment amidst persistent knife crime incidents nationwide. Both organizations are also conducting discussions in Swindon and at area schools and colleges. Ms Davis further noted that the police consistently express being “more than happy” to partner with Owen’s World to assist in “get the message out” concerning the perils of knife crime. She elaborated, “I think if we start to build the trust up from a younger age, then by the time they reach teenage years then hopefully they will have that trust and we can build a better relationship.” In January, two teenagers were found guilty of Mr Dunn’s murder, following proceedings at Bristol Crown Court. Philip Wilkinson, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire, stated, “We have to try and protect our young people.” Additionally, Wiltshire Police has initiated a campaign named ‘Spot the Signs Spot the Crimes’, designed to assist parents and guardians in identifying child exploitation and related violence. Mr Wilkinson asserted, “The loud lesson must be, it’s not smart, you’re not hard, it’s dumb, you’re going to cause harm to other people and that will cause harm to yourself. “We will catch you and we will lock you up.”