A police officer has recalled the "horrific" and "heartbreaking" moment he told a mother her son was dead for national week of action on knife crime.

Steve Crowshaw, who previously served as an officer for Warwickshire police, talks about having to tell a mother that their son has been killed due to knife crime.

He said that if people could see the effects of their actions before committing the crime, they wouldn't do it.

After having to break the loss of her son to the mother, Crowshaw said he witnessed: "The most horrific shriek and scream I have ever heard."

He also stated: "Her life has been changed in the most horrible way, and their family's lives have been changed for something so stupid."

"They have missed out on their son having their own family, their own life and their own achievements."

Crowshaw claimed that teen slang and the fear of repercussions is also to blame for the prevention of people reporting knife crime.

Fear of words like: 'snake', 'grass' and 'rat'.

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"Real loyalty and real friendship is doing the right thing to make sure your friend is still there the next day," he added.

Watch the full video here.