The mother of a teenager who was stabbed to death 10 years ago has paid a visit to a Garston school as part of an anti-violence campaign.
Alison Cope has been working with Hertfordshire Police since 2019 and has spoken to thousands about the dangers of carrying a weapon, the darker side of social media, how to reject violence and how to make more positive choices. This came after the death of her son Joshua Ribera, who was aged just 18 when he was fatally stabbed outside a Birmingham nightclub in September 2013.
Over the course of three days, Alison has spoken to more than 2,400 students and staff, including at Future Academies Watford in Garston.
The presentations are part of a long-term violence prevention scheme by the Safer Watford Partnership, led by Youth Violent Crime Police Community Support Officers Sarah Thomas and Keith Sayers.
Funding for the three-day educational event was provided by Watford borough councillors and Watford Community Housing, among others.
Watford Chief Inspector Andy Wiseman said: “Alison’s latest visit to Watford is an integral part of our wider violence prevention work with young people, and I’m told we’ve already had some hugely positive feedback from the students and teachers who listened to her impactful story.”
Photo credit: Hertfordshire Police
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