England players join fight against knife crime

England footballers David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and David James joined the fight against knife crime on Britain's streets yesterday. The trio helped to launch a new government anti-knife crime campaign called "It Doesn't Have to Happen".

It follows the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in south London on Saturday, the 23rd teenager to be killed in a stabbing or a shooting in the capital this year.

The three players spoke two days before England's opening international of the season against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

Beckham, who grew up in Leytonstone, east London, told a news conference that he had witnessed the effects of knife crime first hand as a young teenager.

"When I was 13 years old the brother of one of my best friends was just about to sign a professional contract with Leyton Orient and he was walking down the street one afternoon when he saw a fight break out.

"He went over to help and ended up getting stabbed in the back and was paralysed," he said.

"It's been going on for a long time, no one wants to see the devastation my friend and his family went through."

James added: "I have three teenage children living in London. When I was there and went to parties it was all right as long as you didn't come back too late and were in a sober state.

"Nowadays your kids go out and you are fearing that they might come back hurt or damaged or worse.

"When we were growing up we all had releases in sport which meant we could focus on something, and not get bored. Too many young people are bored and this is where the problems start."

Ferdinand, who went to the same school as Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in Peckham, south London, in 1993, has been involved in community schemes to help teenagers for many years and said he welcomed the government's initiative.

"Deterrents are also very important," he said. "If someone thinks they are going to go to prison for a year or two of their young lives it might make them think twice about carrying a knife in the first place."