Petal back Hammer Knife Thugs campaign

Feb 24 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON-BASED organisation which helps the victims of violent crime this week backed the Advertiser’s Hammer the Knife Thugs campaign.

Petal, which stands up for people experiencing trauma or loss, say there has to be a greater understanding of the devastating impact of murder on the families of victims.

The group were established in 1994 by Nan Cox and Kate Duffy, the mother of murdered Hamilton girl Amanda Duffy.

They were for 10 years based in Clydesdale Street but in 2009 moved to their current headquarters, just off Almada Street.

There, volunteers provide counselling and support for victims of suicide and violent crime.

They receive up to 700 visits a year from people whose lives have been hit by trauma and bereavement.

A spokesman said this week: “We are now in our 17th year and throughout all those years we have worked with, and supported, families whose lives have been shattered by knife crime.

“As an organisation supporting families bereaved by murder, Petal fully supports the Advertiser's anti-knife crime campaign.

“When someone’s life has been taken it also extends to the whole community;

it affects not only their families, but everyone they came into contact with socially and in the workplace – as witnessed during the past weeks.

“There needs to be a greater understanding of the devastating affect caused by murder.

“We will never stop knife crime until we educate people on the aftermath of the taking of another person’s life and it is also essential that mandatory sentences are introduced to not only punish those who use knives, but also punish those who carry knives.”