Ross Kemp thinks raising awareness can find a solution to knife crime

7 August 2019

Ross Kemp wants to raise "awareness" of knife crime to find a solution.

Ross Kemp

The 55-year-old broadcaster has opened up about his new ITV documentary 'Living With Knife Crime' - the third episode in his current series - and he hopes shining a light on such serious issues can help push people in power to make a difference.

Appearing on ITV's 'This Morning', Ross was asked what his latest film can achieve, and explained: "Understanding and awareness. The more we understand problems, the more likely we are to come up with solutions."

The former 'EastEnders' actor admitted delving into such a "complex problem" in a relatively short programme has its challenges, but he thinks his team have come together to give a fair representation.

He said: "It's trying to unravel a very complex problem in 23, 24 minutes. But I think we have a fair go at that - I won't say a fair stab - but we do have a fair go at it. They're treating it as a war, these young people... That shouldn't be happening in 2019 in my country."

Ross pointed out that children as young as 10 are ending up in horrific situations, and he insisted social media has to take some of the blame.

He added: "How do you understand the consequences of your actions? I don't understand the consequences of my actions and I'm 55 years old.

"It escalates so quickly because of social media. You and I fall out at school in the classroom. When we were kids, it was dealt with within the school or the class.

"Now, the entire area and community will know that you and I have fallen out, and that escalates very quickly because you'll be egged on, I'll be egged on. What would've been a fight outside school is now three people on three carrying machetes."

Meanwhile, Ross has recently revealed he gets martial arts training from comedian Russell Brand to protect himself from the gangs he reports on.

He said: "I do martial arts with Russell Brand a few times a week now. We do that and a spot of touch rugby... That one needs to be tackle-free at our age though."