Jason Isaacs: Family of 18th teenager stabbed to death in London this year say knife crime is 'out of control'
Police offering £20,000 reward for information on moped-riding gang who attacked teenager as he walked to a party
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The family of the 18th teenager to be stabbed to death in London so far this year have said knife crime is “out of control” in the capital.
Jason Isaacs was walking to a party with friends in Northolt when two mopeds approached, chasing him and launching an unprovoked and brutal assault.
The 18-year-old, who was working as an apprentice carpenter, died of multiple stab wounds in hospital and police are offering a £20,000 reward for information on his murderers.
Jason’s parents said they were devastated to have lost their "beautiful son in such senseless circumstances”.
Paying tribute to the “kind and loving son and brother” who loved his friends, music, fashion and his Queens Park Rangers football team, relatives said another young life must not be taken away.
“We feel that knife crime in this area, and in London, is out of control and it must be stopped before another young life is taken, and another family has to suffer what we are suffering now,” the family said in a statement.
“We need to educate young people early on around the dangers of carrying knives in public places.
"We are pleading with the public to come forward and assist police in their enquiries to find out who murdered our son as we are currently living in a nightmare. Our family is incomplete without Jason and will never be the same again."
Police were called shortly before 10.30pm to the scene of the attack on Saturday, alongside paramedics and the air ambulance.
Jason was taken to hospital with critical injuries and died on Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Police is appealing for witnesses, offering £20,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of his killers.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said Jason and his friends had bought drinks from a nearby off-licence and were walking the short distance to a party when two mopeds carrying pillion passengers wearing balaclavas approached.
"Jason and his friends ran and the mopeds gave chase,” he added. “It was at this point that Jason became separated from his friends, and he was brutally attacked.
"After the suspects left the scene, Jason's friends went back to Newnham Close to find him mortally wounded.
"This appears to have been an unprovoked, pre-planned attack. Jason, who was unarmed and not looking for trouble, was stabbed multiple times with a large knife.
"Jason was a popular lad who has had his life brutally ended for no reason, leaving his family and friends devastated.
"We will do everything we can to track down his killers who acted in a truly horrific manner."
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in relation to the attack on Monday but has since been bailed to return in mid-December.
Jason’s death comes amid mounting concern and anger over a spike in knife attacks in London, alongside rises in moped-enabled violent crime including acid attacks and robberies.
Cressida Dick, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said stabbings had risen by 15 per cent in the capital so far this year.
Speaking earlier this month, she said the crime wave was being driven by a “core group of young offenders” repeatedly committing assault and robbery “with relative impunity”.
Ms Dick provoked an angry response from campaigners after suggesting that harsher sentences seeing teenage criminals jailed could deter the crime, as “it is clear other approaches are no longer working”.
She argued that an increasing number of young people do not fear state action and are not deterred by the threat of imprisonment because they do not believe they will be jailed, or that it would be for a short time.
One in three robbery victims is aged 10 to 19, while the 26 per cent of rape victims are in the same age group, along with 16 per cent of sexual offenders.
Crime reported to police has risen by 13 per cent across England and Wales in the past year, with the increase partly attributed to a “genuine rise in violent crime”.
Mopeds are increasingly being used to carry out attacks using weapons such as knives, hammers and acid – predominantly as part of robberies targeting other mopeds or high-value goods like phones.
The Government has responded by proposing new laws cracking down on the use of acid, as the Home Office reviews the law around police chases amid claims officers fear prosecution if moped riders are killed or injured during pursuit.
Anyone with information on the murder of Jason Isaacs is asked to call police on 020 8785 8099 or via 101, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or tweet @MetCC.