Big Vinny Has Spoken On Knife Crime

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says young people need "the right amount of education and support at every level" to help prevent knife crime.
Seven people have been stabbed to death in England in the past week.

Yousef Makki, 17, was killed on Saturday in Hale Barns, Altrincham, near where Kompany lives.

"It shocks me but it doesn't surprise me," Kompany told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

"Knife crime isn't an issue that's going to go away just because of repression and police action.

"Of course we need to support the forces but it's linked to prevention and prevention often comes through education."

Belgium centre-back Kompany, 32, said he had lost friends from the area of Brussels he grew up in because of knife crime.

"You have to look at the issue from a broader perspective and prevention is critical," he added.

"It's about whether we decide to take it seriously and go all the way in making sure that people have the right amount of education and support at every level to not be able to fall off the grid.

"And in falling off the grid I'm talking in terms of being a young guy on the street thinking that knife crime is OK as a lifestyle."

'We want to end homelessness in Manchester'
Kompany was speaking at an event for 'Tackle4MCR', which he set up with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham last year to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the region.

Manchester City have announced they will hold a testimonial match for Kompany on 11 September, with all proceeds going to 'Tackle4MCR'.
"The goal, being bold about it, is to stop homelessness in Manchester," said Kompany, who has captained to City to three Premier League titles since joining in 2008.

"I've been in this community for 11 years now - my wife Carla is from Manchester, the kids are Mancs, born and bred, so homelessness is not an issue we can shy away from.
"It's something we should not accept - there are a lot of successful people and we have a responsibility to not just expect everything to come from the state but to be responsible for our share as well.

"It's an issue that's much more complex than I thought it was at first - you see people on the street as a result of the journey they've been on but to understand the causes is a lot more difficult.

"A lot of it is bad luck or just having the wrong things happen at the wrong time - it made me not want to be the guy who understands everything about this issue, but be the guy to help people understand more."