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A dad who suffered significant injuries after being stabbed on the streets of Cardiff claims knife crime in the Welsh capital is getting worse.

Marvin Heron, from Llanrumney , says children as young as 10 are carrying knives around the city without realising the devastating physical and psychological impact they could cause.

He has now launched the #KnivesDownChallenge19, where people are urged to record a short poem or rap - under the same backing track - about why knife crime needs to be stopped in its tracks.

The 29-year-old says he has been staggered by how many people have chosen to take part since it was launched on Friday, July 26.

"The challenge has really taken off," he said.

"Within 72 hours I think I received about 60 videos from different artists.

"I will probably pick about 20 of them to put together into one song."

(Image: Richard Williams)

Marvin, who was stabbed around nine years ago, said it took "a couple of weeks" to recover from his injuries.

But he said the incident had a far more lasting impact on him psychologically.

"I understand what it's like to be stabbed and how it can affect you both physically and mentally," he said.

"I'm quite a strong character and I have strong people around me, but mentally it still has had an impact.

"I still have that fear that I'm going to be stabbed."

Here's another example of the #KnivesDownChallenge19

He said many young people do not think about the consequences of carrying a knife or the damage it can cause.

"It's dangerous on the streets of Cardiff, it's scary," he added.

"I think this rise in knife crime can be blamed partly on the fact there's nothing for kids to do. There aren't as many youth clubs, and they are not being given the right guidance or being shown right from wrong."

The dad-of-five admitted that his biggest concern is for the safety of his own children.

"From a selfish point of view, I obviously think about my own kids first as they are the most important thing to me," he added.

"But this is a far bigger problem than that, and it goes far wider than Cardiff."

(Image: Richard Williams)

According to most recent data, knife crime is at record levels in Wales.

Police recorded 1,375 serious crimes involving knives or sharp instruments in the country in 2018-19, up 20% from the year before.

The figure is the highest since comparable records began in 2010-11. That year police in Wales recorded 741, which is just over half of the current total.

In the last financial year there were seven murders using a knife, and 27 knife point rapes or sexual assaults.

In May 2019 the Offensive Weapons Act came into effect which the UK Government claims brings in tough new measures that ensures knives and weapons are less likely to make their way onto the streets.

(Image: Katie Collins/PA Wire)

The government said it has also put money into violence reduction units in 18 areas around the UK, as well as into some early intervention projects.

The former Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, Nick Hurd, said earlier this month: “While the chances of being a victim of crime remain low, we are deeply concerned that certain offences, including serious violence, have increased and we are taking urgent.

“Police funding is increasing by more than £1bn this year, including council tax and £100m for forces worst affected by violent crime.

“I am encouraged to see officer numbers increasing, and that Police and Crime Commissioners have committed to recruit over 3,700 additional officers and staff this year.

“We are also acting to address the root causes of violence and stop young people being drawn into crime in the first place."