A mother gave an emotional tribute to her murdered son during a service to commemorate victims of knife crime at a Finsbury Park church on Sunday.

Islington Gazette: The Word 4 Weapons bin was the initiative of the St Mellitus Justice and Peace group as part of their ongoing campaign against knife and gun crime in London. Picture: Alice HallThe Word 4 Weapons bin was the initiative of the St Mellitus Justice and Peace group as part of their ongoing campaign against knife and gun crime in London. Picture: Alice Hall (Image: Archant)

Jessica Plummer, who lives off Isledon Road, was one of the speakers invited to St. Mellitus Church to mark the installation of a new amnesty knife bin in Tollington Park.

Her son, Shaquan Sammy-Plummer, was seventeen when he was stabbed to death in January 2015 in Enfield.

“I cannot describe the pain I feel that will never go away.” She said. “I spend my time trying to make a difference in my community, because I don’t want another mother going through my pain.”

Ms Plummer, who has two other children aged 24 and 19, visits local schools to educate children about the danger of carrying knives. She has also set up an anti-knife crime foundation in Shaquan’s name.

“It’s my way of healing.” She said. “Most of these kids are just looking for love.”

During the half hour memorial, members of the community listened in silence to the names of 44 young Londoners killed by knife or gun crime between January and September 2018.

As part of her address, Plummer urged the police to “be patient” with young people and “allow them to talk.”

“We need to pay more attention to our children. They don’t belong to the government, they belong to us.” She said.

David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, was there too. He stated that more and more young people were becoming “seduced into the attractions of gangs.”

“This terrible loss of life has touched every single community in north London.” He said. “I have no doubt that this initiative will save lives.”

Anjna Khurana, councillor for Tollington Ward, said: “It’s the kids who are suffering. I think it’s going to make them realise that they’re being listened to and that people care.”

The bin, which was supplied by Words 4 Weapons’ Charity, was installed at the start of October after months of funding led by Percy Aggett for the St. Mellitus Justice and Peace Group.