Keir Starmer brands attacks on Archie’s Newcastle memorial despicable

Archie York’s mum, Katherine Errington, issued a plea earlier this month for an end to destructive anti-social behaviour at the Parish Ponds in Woolsington.

A new nature trail is being created through the area in memory of Archie, who lost his life in the tragic Violet Close explosion in Benwell in October 2024.

Katherine’s call for the perpetrators to respect her beloved son’s memory has now been backed by the Prime Minister.

Vandalism at the Parish Ponds in Woolsington, Newcastle, where a nature trail is being created in memory of Benwell explosion victim Archie York. Photo: Woolsington Parish Council. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.

On a visit to Newcastle today (Thursday, April 23), the Labour leader described the attacks as “awful”.

The Prime Minister spoke on St George’s Day about the importance of  “service, generosity, and respect” in England.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It must be particularly hurtful to his family and his loved ones, and actually everybody who cares about him and has decency. We do need to tackle this head-on.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer at the Newcastle United Foundation’s NUCASTLE centre in Diana Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, on April 23, 2026. Photo: LDRS. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.

“I think the way we do that is to make sure we have many more community neighbourhood police and we give them more powers to deal with anti-social behaviour. But this particular act is really despicable and I think all decent, tolerant people would look at this with real abhorrence.”

The “Forever 7” nature trail will be completed next month, in time to mark what would have been Archie’s ninth birthday in May.

But his family and Woolsington Parish Council were left concerned that the tribute could be ruined, after a series of incidents around the ponds.

A memorial bench dedicated to Archie was damaged by a disposable barbecue, motorbikes and quadbikes have been seen tearing up grass, and wooden gates into the park have been ripped off and set alight in a bonfire.

Katherine called the anti-social behaviour “disgusting” and said it felt like “a threat to us as a family”.

She wants the nature trail to become a peaceful place where families from across Tyneside can enjoy spending time together, just as Archie did.

Her son was killed in an explosion caused by an illegal cannabis shatter lab that was being operated in the flat beneath his family home.

Katherine welcomed Sir Keir’s support and said that the attacks on the nature reserve seemed to have eased since her appeal.

She told the LDRS: “The response has been really good and I think having Archie’s walk on the Parish ponds will hopefully mean that there is lower vandalism and ant-social behaviour there. That would be really positive.”

Sir Keir has hailed the Government’s flagship Pride in Place programme, which will see £80 million of funding allocated for long-term improvements to communities in Newcastle over the next decade. 

The areas earmarked for cash include Fawdon, Red House Farm, North Kenton, Throckley, Walbottle, Newburn, Walker, Elswick, Byker, and Benwell.