An anti-knife crime campaigner whose son was killed in a stabbing has said 17 years of campaigning has got her “nowhere”.

Lynne Booker helped organise an anti-knife crime event in Woolwich last Tuesday (August 22) for the families of victims of knife attacks.

Around 200 people showed up for the emotional event, organised by Ms Booker as part of her ongoing attempts to get the community together to combat knife crime.

Families who had relatives killed in knife paid tribute to the work of Met Police in helping combat the increase in knife crime in the capital.

However, 17 years after her son Terry died after he was stabbed in Plumstead aged 19, Ms Booker said she doesn’t feel like she’s achieved much in combatting knife crime.

She said: “At the end of 17 years I got nowhere. I did help a lot of people but knife crime has gone up. We had someone go out on Tuesday (August 29) and stab someone in Woolwich.

“I had campaigned for 17 years non-stop but my illness means I can’t do it anymore.

“I don’t think the charges are strong enough for knife carrying.”

One of the main reasons Ms Booker decided to run the anti-knife crime event in Woolwich was Terry Booker’s second cousin, Adam Chambers, was the victim of a fatal stabbing on June 13 this year.

While she doesn’t feel like she was able to change the amount of knife crime in London, Ms Booker said she does feel like she helped families who were the victims of knife crime recover from the grief.

She said: “My main concern is for bereaved parents there was nothing out there for parents of children who were victims of homicide.

“When Terry died I sat indoors pulling my hair out until I realised I could help people.

“The whole community came together for this event. I was totally blown away by all of it.

“I have had a couple of messages from people who said they made them realise how serious it is and what to look out for.

“Hopefully something good will come of it.”