A campaign to raise awareness of the effects of knife crime has been started by the friends and family of James Dean.

FAMILY and friends of James Dean have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the effects of knife crime.

Stop.Now has been created in the hope that islanders will think before they take a knife out on the street.

Mr Dean died on 8 September 2006 after being stabbed in the High Street.

James Ahearne, a close friend of his, said family and friends wanted to do something to educate people about knife crime.

‘I do think a campaign is needed over here,’ said the 24-year-old.

‘Unfortunately, it does take something like this [Mr Dean’s death] to happen before something is done about a problem such as knife crime.

‘We wanted to do something that would raise awareness and show the effects that knife crime can have on family, friends and also a community.

‘Guernsey has not had a major problem with knife crime, like the UK, but we want to make sure that it doesn’t become a problem and that we prevent anything from happening ever again.’

To help kick-start the campaign, Mr Ahearne has created a Facebook group and he will be setting up an email address in future.

An anti-knife march in memory of Mr Dean will see the official launch of the campaign next month.

That will take place on what would have been Mr Dean’s 25th birthday, Saturday 17 April.

Walkers will start at the clock tower on the Bridge at 2pm and continue along the seafront into Town and down the High Street, finishing in Market Square.

T-shirts bearing the Stop.Now logo will be on sale at the march.

Mr Ahearne said it could become an annual event.

More than 200 people have said  on its dedicated Facebook event page that they will be attending the march.

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