Weatherman Interrupts Live Debate About Knife Crimes And The Prison System To Make A Powerful Point
A major hot-button political issue in the UK is how to crack down on knife attacks and knife violence, which have risen exponentially in recent years.
The trend in knife attacks rises mostly from gang violence, which is often perpetrated by black youths (under the age of 18) living in heavily urbanized areas.
In a heated debate on Good Morning Britain, Police Federation chair John Apter was arguing for the need for stronger sentencing and more prisons to hold prisoners when Alex Beresford, the weather man, who was technically not involved in that segment, interjected from across the room.
Alex Interrupts Stop and Search Debate to Talk About His Experience | Good Morning Britainwww.youtube.com
"Prison doesn't work, though!" Beresford said.
"Listen, I've grown up in some of these communities you guys are talking about, and prison—it's not a deterrent. Some of these boys, they don't fear prison. If you don't change the environment, you won't change anything. And that's the key thing, if you don't change the environment."
This is the problem we face daily. The blackman having to shout his frustration across the room rather than be invi… https://t.co/x6Jl54B292— Andys Rule (@Andys Rule) 1551792971.0
Alex Beresford is not just “a weatherman” as I seem to keep reading everywhere! I’ll say this... on that set and in… https://t.co/BNdg8slXn5— Tom Selway (@Tom Selway) 1551829677.0
Well done Alex Beresford for speaking up but what a shame he had to. As he pointed out - the people being debated a… https://t.co/FatuVrohXM— Prof Ingrid Sharp (@Prof Ingrid Sharp) 1551907396.0
"This has been happening for years, okay?" he went on.
"Years. And it's not always in the media. But it won't change. It's going to take several things together, and yes, policing is one thing. But at the end of the day, if you don't change these boys' environment...All of you guys on that side, you benefitted from the environment that you've grown up in. You've benefitted from being in this work environment. I've benefitted from it. But these boys, not all of them get to benefit from the environment. If we don't show them something else, you won't change it."
We spoke to Alex after the show - who reiterated why it’s so important to tackle ‘gang culture’ early and effective… https://t.co/FiuJIPON5P— Good Morning Britain (@Good Morning Britain) 1551825178.0
We need People like you in Politics. Alex Beresford For London Mayor. @GMB https://t.co/FYgrGIsxZw— Citizen M (@Citizen M) 1551884917.0
I am not sure why Alex Beresford, a mixed raced presenter, had to make his extremely insightful contribution from w… https://t.co/AzJpABfW33— Nadine White (@Nadine White) 1551789833.0
Valid point @alexberesfordTV finally someone speaking out. Changing the environment and engaging with these young p… https://t.co/ixrrpvxm9D— Shane Sandiford (@Shane Sandiford) 1551891930.0
Maximum respect @alexberesfordTV. When the moment came he stepped up https://t.co/iOUZMIJEb2— Clive Lewis MP (@Clive Lewis MP) 1552132014.0
The frustration of young black men was a major talking point of Beresford's:
"Listen, before I started this job, I was pulled over quite a lot and it used to frustrate me. You know, I got pulled up just because I had my hood up in the wintertime. And the officer said, 'Why are you driving with your hood up?' and I said, 'Because it's minus one outside. Why can't I have my hood up?'"
And after the debate, he tweeted a further thought about young black men to Twitter:
After today’s debate I have a question. Criminal or Victim? https://t.co/b821kdFEJW— Alex Beresford (@Alex Beresford) 1551801598.0
To which people are responding:
@alexberesfordTV Victim! no child aspires to be in a gang and if they do it's because they have known little else,… https://t.co/riaEB6B46L— Clár Ní Fhearaíl (@Clár Ní Fhearaíl) 1551815859.0
@alexberesfordTV I am so glad you spoke up for these young lads! I am sick and tired of politicians not taking resp… https://t.co/XQGy9d9Lh8— Cycling Boy (@Cycling Boy) 1551823323.0
@alexberesfordTV My missus is a teacher and when she told me about this happening to kids in her primary school I w… https://t.co/Yt0KmerVwr— Adam Thompson (@Adam Thompson) 1551823323.0
@alexberesfordTV Well done @alexberesfordTV you are the first person to talk sense about the issue, please continue… https://t.co/R1w9qFxVLd— Matt (@Matt) 1551806997.0
@alexberesfordTV #victims..well done you for speaking with passion and reason. None of us choose our start in life,… https://t.co/OK9ns4Kb6B— ANGELA PARKIN (@ANGELA PARKIN) 1551811195.0
@alexberesfordTV Victim! It’s happening on a huge scale and there isn’t enough in the press about it. Thank you for raising more awareness 👍— Helen Cavill (@Helen Cavill) 1552004560.0
"We need to intervene much earlier down the line," he said in an interview following the GMB segment.
"Let's try and stop this before it gets too far down the road. I think what we see in the media is the end result. You don't see that person, that young boy, that young black boy as a child, you know? We just see the end result."
@alexberesfordTV I welcomed your interruption in today’s debate. As a teacher, some of my students are victims and… https://t.co/W4hAai1QkS— Mimsi xx (@Mimsi xx) 1551815402.0
@alexberesfordTV Anybody who is groomed is a victim and I agree with your impassioned statement on @GMB . Well don… https://t.co/tyA6ANpR4M— geriesa1 (@geriesa1) 1551805397.0
@alexberesfordTV I think anyone who is groomed is a victim. It always seems to be vulnerable people who are lured w… https://t.co/m5LIDCvpX5— Jean (@Jean) 1551802651.0
@alexberesfordTV Victims! On top of that more needs to be done to keep them/their families safe if they speak out.… https://t.co/esQ8c5dcmY— Erin (@Erin) 1551802322.0
Watch that interview here:
Alex Beresford Explains Why Prison Won't Solve Knife Crime | Good Morning Britainyoutu.be
Beresford's interjection was very needed in this panel of white people debating black kids' rights.
The US could take a lesson.