Another Teenager Dies in London Knife Attack

A teenage boy has been stabbed to death in a north London street, becoming the latest victim of a spate of murders involving youth in the capital in recent months.

The Caucasian boy, who was in his mid-teens and has yet to be identified, was discovered by police on Tuesday evening after a "disturbance" involving gangs of youth in Islington.

The death is the latest in a series of killings involving teenagers in London.

On Saturday, Ben Hitchcock, 16, from Penge, south London, was stabbed to death in a fight involving up to 40 youths in Beckenham. Hitchcock's murder followed the shooting of a 17-year-old girl during a fight at a bar in north London in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Annaka Keniesha Pinto died in hospital after being shot in Tottenham.

The latest deaths have renewed calls from Christians across the capital for something to be done about the escalating levels of knife and gun crime in London.

Already throughout 2007, various churches throughout London have held prayer vigils and have campaigned to local authorities for appropriate measures to be put in place to bring the situation under control.

One Christian drama production company is currently preparing to undertake on a national tour aiming to tackle the spate of knife and gun killings that has plagued youth culture in Britain.

London-based FAITH Drama Productions is launching a two-hour long drama Life on the Stairs, which uses drama with hip hop, grime and dance to try to keep young people away from a life of crime.

The organisers hope the play will highlight the importance of positive living and speak to young people about the negative effect of gang war, gun/knife crimes and revenge killings.

Many of the young actors appearing in the play come from disadvantaged backgrounds - some have faced poverty, homelessness and even had a first hand experience of criminal gang culture. For these young adults, being involved in the play has given them the opportunity to turn a new leaf.

"I used to be involved with a gang," states 18-year-old Michelle*, "but joining this (FAITH Drama Productions) has given me the chance to hang out with different peeps and gain self-confidence and better acting skills."

19-year-old Chantelle from Birmingham adds, "Our roads today are getting worse. You never know when another life may go. Young men are being killed like it's a joke. When I found out someone I knew, Meshack Tesfa Bernard- Brown had been shot last year and Odwayne Anthony Barnes just been stabbed a few months ago, I was upset as these are our talented young men, which is why FAITH Drama Productions is such an important organisation as they are allowing teens to realise that they have been blessed with talents to go out and help other people."

For more information about FAITH Drama Productions please visit www.faithdrama.org.uk