ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Right across London the familiar local council free-sheet newspaper hits the doormat on a regular basis.Μύ But even the most optimistic communications officer would have to admit it's not the best way of getting a message through to teenagers.

Tower Hamlets Council has grasped that reality and is trying to meet the kids on their own 'virtual' home turf.Μύ Working with the police they have made a short, dramaticΜύ film clip about knife crime, which they are circulating on websites like Bebo and Youtube.ΜύΜύΜύ

The film shows a young man running through busy London streets, with another figure in hot pursuit.Μύ It's action packed and is shot from the point of view of the people who watch the chase unfold.Μύ The end has a shocking twist which packs a powerful message.

Cllr Abdal Ullah

Cllr Abdal Ullah, who fully supports the viral advertising campaign says: β€œWe don’t have a particular issue with knife crime in the borough but it would be foolish to ignore what is happening across the capital and in fact the country. People are certainly very concerned about knife crime at the moment and we wanted to get our young people to think about it and talk to them in a way that engages them.

β€œThere is no doubt that the film we have produced is dramatic and hard hitting. But it needs to be. We have not set out to patronise young people, there is no soft side to the reality of knife crime. We know that a film won’t solve the issues around knife crime alone but we also know that encouraging young people to talk about it and showing the potential consequences is a good way to get them to give serious consideration to the issue.”

Click on the link below to watch the film clip.