Parents of murdered Norfolk teen join knife crime task force

Emma and Phil Dix attended Downing Street this week to tell Sir Kier Starmer more about how their son Joe was stabbed to death in Norwich in 2022.

Joe Dix (Image: Supplied by family of Joe Dix) They were one of five families invited to Number 10 whose lives have been devastated by knife crime.

Salhouse couple set up the Joe Dix Foundation to tackle knife crime and the exploitation of young people after their son's murder. His killers were sentenced to life imprisonment last year. 

Prime minister Keir Starmer (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire) The government's anti-knife crime coalition aims to reduce the risk of young people becoming involved in violence.

It will bring together campaign groups, families of people killed by knife crime, young people who have been affected and community leaders.

Speaking after the event on Monday (September 9), Emma said: "Sir Keir Starmer said at the start of the meeting that he had taken time on Sunday to read each family’s story.

"He was aware of Joe's exploitation and that as a family we have been through a lot over the years.

"He was extremely grateful that we were present and was aware that emotions were high, but hoped for us all to use our emotions to make change."

Emma Dix (Image: Supplied by family of Joe Dix) She said she was "shocked" but also "excited" to receive the invitation to Downing Street and "honoured" to be part of the new group. 

She said: "The whole situation feels surreal and contradicting.

"We would rather not be in this situation and have Joe still here, but contrary to that we are honoured that our charity work and Joe's story is being recognised."

Knife crime campaigner and Luther actor Idris Elba, who Emma and Phil met in London earlier this year, is also part of the coalition.

Phil and Emma Dix with Idris Elba (Image: Supplied by family of Joe Dix)

Joe Dix in his younger years (Image: Supplied by family of Joe Dix) Emma said: "The Joe Dix Foundation will continue to deliver and work towards its aims and projects that we have planned. 

"Hopefully this connection with the government will open doors for funding opportunities to allow our projects to expand. 

"We have reached the point where the charity has so much work it needs to employ people to help."

Log onto www.joedixfoundation.co.uk for more information.

Joe Dix's murder

The teenager was attacked and stabbed outside his flat in Vale Green, Mile Cross, in January 2022, as part of a conflict between his county lines drug gang and members of a rival one.

Vale Green sealed off after the murder (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) In August last year Hans Beeharry, then 20, Benjamin Gil, then 19, and Cameron Palmer, then also 19, were jailed for more than 60 years after they were found guilty of murder.

Cameron Palmer, Hans Beeharry and Benjamin Gil (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Mr Dix, who himself had a conviction for drug offences, was heading out to confront the trio. He was also carrying a knife, and had been called to help a friend in a nearby drug den that his killers had attempted to raid. 

The three had gone out armed with at least one knife to threaten those in the property, which was being used by a county lines drug gang.

They met Mr Dix in the street and stabbed him seven times after chasing him.

Sentencing Judge Alice Robinson said all three “collectively” took a knife, or at least two knives, to the scene and “used that knife to commit the murder”.

She said the onslaught on Mr Dix was “swift” and a “group attack in which you all played a part”.