Brent Council is working with the parents of a stabbing victim to raise awareness of knife crime in the borough.

Paul Barnes and Lillian Serunkuma have organised a music festival in honour of their son, Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes, who was killed in 2017.

The ‘One Love’ memorial event will take place in the Roundwood Park annexe in Willesden on July 22.

Celebrating “the music Quamari loved”, it will also carry a clear anti-knife crime message from the stage.

Cllr Tom Miller, responsible for community safety at Brent Council, said: “We are really glad we can support this event and work with Quamari’s parents to bring the anti-knife crime message to the wider community.

“It promises to be a really memorable day and we hope young people enjoy themselves but also take heed of the anti-knife crime message that we are all trying to spread – knives destroy lives on both ends of the blade.”

Quamari was murdered outside Capital City Academy at the end of the school day in January last year.

His family said they want young people across north-west London to attend the festival to listen to inspirational speakers about the devastating impact of knife crime.

“Knife crime doesn’t just affect the victims, it also destroys the lives of perpetrators,” Ms Serunkuma said.

“Often these kids do have bright futures and everything to live for, but they snap, they take rash decisions without thinking about the consequences. So, it’s two lives that are lost, and two sets of families affected.”

The event is free and runs from 12pm to around 7pm.