Knife crime 'blitz courts' are to be launched to help tackle Britain's justice backlog

The government is to introduce specialist 'blitz courts' targeting knife crime cases in a bid to cut through the mounting backlog choking the justice system. Judges will be able to hear cases hundreds of miles from their usual courts, including via video link. The move comes as Babatunde Taylor, brother of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor, warns that tackling knife crime is 'needed now more than ever'. A new BBC documentary, 'Damilola: The Untold Story', marks 25 years since the 10-year-old was fatally stabbed walking home from Peckham Library.

In November 2000, Damilola died from blood loss in a stairwell after a broken beer bottle was used to inflict a leg wound.

Babatunde, now chair of the Damilola Trust, says the charity is dealing with issues 'far more diverse' than when his brother was killed.

He warns that an entire generation of young people has grown up with no knowledge of Damilola's story — and hopes the documentary will prompt them to reflect on 'the choices they're making'.