An Eastenders actress has backed a campaign to tackle knife crime after reading about a Hertfordshire amnesty in MyAbbotsNews.
Melanie Harris lives in Abbots Langley. She played Sophie in one of the soaps biggest storylines of the year, says more can be done to tackle knife crime.
Her passion for tackling knife crime follows a storyline she was involved in earlier this year when her on-screen son, Bruno, was arrested for the murder of Shakil Kazemi.
The emotive storyline attracted huge audience figures as Melanie’s character emotionally apologised to the murdered victims mum.
The story helped highlight the impact on the offenders family and Melanie hopes it can be a catalyst for youngster to think before they act. She said: “I back any campaign to reduce knife crime and felt compelled by the amnesty story in MyAbbotsNews.
“Youngsters or anyone involved in knife crime should remember it is also their family that suffers. It’s their mum that they should think about, it’s awful for victims and families on both sides.
“Playing my role in Eastenders really helped me change my perception. Previously I would think an eye for an eye when it comes to horrible crimes but now I realise it’s more than the victim and their family that suffers.
“Families of offenders can get targeted and are often blamed when there is little more they can do.
“We can’t wrap our kids in cotton wool but the temptation to make the next step from alcohol and drugs is too easy. One moment can change several lives forever.
“If we can stop these crimes before they happen and educate would be offenders we can reduce the number of incidents we are seeing, because they seem to be on the rise.”
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