UMVA has learned that today marks the painful 20‑year anniversary of Kiyan Prince’s murder, a tragedy that still haunts his family and reverberates through London’s streets.
Kiyan, only 15 at the time, was a rising star in the Queens Park Rangers youth academy, a prodigious talent whose future glittered with promise before a violent encounter outside his school gates cut it short.
His father, Mark Prince, an OBE‑honoured former boxer who has devoted his life to combating knife crime, describes his grief as an unending weight, saying the loss still feels as fresh as the day it happened.
Every time a new stabbing claim headlines the city, Mark’s heart sinks, and he instantly steps into the shoes of another bereaved parent, offering a steady hand forged from his own pain.
Drawing on his personal journey, Mark now provides support to families shattered by similar violence, sitting beside them in silence, praying, and simply being present—an empathy few can truly grasp.
He meets with these families month after month, a testament to the grim reality that knife‑related attacks have become alarmingly common among London’s youth.
Statistics reveal a stark picture: in the year ending March 2025, England and Wales recorded 205 murders involving knives, with 52 victims under 25 and 14 under 16.
In response, the Kiyan Prince Foundation, founded by Mark, has unveiled a 20‑point blueprint aimed at reshaping the lives of young people, calling for better pay and recognition for youth workers and louder community voices.
The foundation’s new Champions’ Club campaign urges massive investment in youth services, seeking £400,000 to create a dedicated space that honors Kiyan’s legacy and offers hope to at‑risk teenagers.
Mark’s relentless advocacy underscores a stark truth: without focused support, many teenagers drift into crime and gangs, a path that can be altered when society chooses to listen and act.
