Prayer vigil “to show solidarity with our city”

A woman whose hometown has witnessed some high-profile violent crimes is planning a prayer vigil to bring the community together.

Yvonne Michele, from Luton, Bedfordshire, said: “I think we need to come together and do something, regardless of religion and race, to show solidarity with this city we live in.”

Their first attempt to organize the vigil on Thursday had to be canceled due to heavy rain.

Ms Michele, who is working with Luton Borough Council on a future appointment, said the many “good things coming from Luton” needed to be highlighted.

“I love Luton”

“Luton has some great people and some great things going on, but that is never highlighted as much as the crime we see.” [the Channel 4 documentary series] “24 hours of detention making Luton look like the worst place to live,” she said.

“I was born in Luton, grew up here, left a few times but I always come back, it’s my family home and I love it.”

In November, the trauma team at Luton and Dunstable Hospital said it had treated more victims of violence than any other hospital in the east of England, with a particular focus on knife crime.

According to Bedfordshire Police, incidents involving knives and bladed objects fell by 20% year-on-year in Bedfordshire in July, while serious violence against young people fell by 10%.

Ms Michele said knife violence was “no respect for the person, you could be a young person or an older person”, adding: “We are the only ones who can change this.”

“The reason for the prayer vigil is to make people more aware of what is going on around them,” she said.

“Yes, we are calling for a prayer meeting, but the point is that we come together as one and [this is] the easiest way to bring people together.

Luton Borough Council has been contacted for comment.

The Knife Angel – an 8m high sculpture made of 100,000 blades – was unveiled in St George’s Square in August. It should be a clear reminder of the extent of knife crime.

It has since moved to Haverhill, Suffolk and will be in Peterborough in October.

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