Stabbed teen’s father: My mission for 2022 is to halt this epidemic

The father of murdered teenage footballer Kiyan Prince plans to speak to 100,000 youngsters across the UK this year to stop the violent crime epidemic.

Dr Mark Prince OBE says he will travel to any school, youth group or prison from Land’s End to John O’Groats if it prevents another tragedy.

Kiyan, 16, who played for Queens Park Rangers’ youth team, was stabbed to death trying to break up a fight outside his north London school in 2006.

Dr Prince, 52, a former IBF and WBO intercontinental boxing champion, speaks to youngsters about how they can create their own legacy by being kind and good like Kiyan.

He hopes to raise £150,000 for the schools tour, get celebrities and community leaders involved, and make a documentary.

Dr Prince said: “Sadly, we still had to talk about knife crime getting worse in 2021. It’s heartbreaking for parents to see nothing has changed over the years. I’m willing to go anywhere if it saves a life and in the next year aim to speak to over 100,000 youngsters.

“I want headteachers or anyone who feels their children’s group will benefit with advice on careers or apprenticeships to get in touch. Contributing to your community has a greater impact than getting angry.

“I’m talking to them as a kid who was homeless and involved in the wrong mindset until I was 21 when I decided to change. That person was in me.”

Kiyan was killed by Hannad Hasan, who was 17 at the time. He was jailed for a minimum of 13 years for murder.

In May, the Fifa 21 video game used AI technology to show Kiyan as a 30-year-old professional footballer, allowing gamers to play as him.

QPR listed him as a squad member on all matchday programmes, having already renamed their ground the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in 2019.

For information: thekpf.com