A HEARTBROKEN mum whose son was knifed to death after plunging into the world of violent gangs warned: "If it happened to my boy, it can happen to ANYONE."

Genevive Johnson's 19-year -old lad Edvin grew up on a tough inner-city estate but he was bright and full of hope.

He shone at school, earned glowing reports, had lined up a job and was about to go to university.

But that didn't stop him being lured into the gangland culture that pervaded his neighbourhood-and he met a grisly death in a stairwell close to his home.

Edvin's devastated mother believes it is time the thugs who kill learned the consquences of their actions.

She said: "Take them to tend the graves of the people they kill. Let them go to the mortuaries.

HAVE YOUR SAY: How should we Save our Streets?

"If they'd seen what my son looked like at his funeral maybe they would have thought twice before taking a life."

Genevive's emotional speech stunned the audience who packed London's City Hall for this week's final leg of the News of the World's Save Our Streets roadshow tour of Britain.

She told how she tried everything to keep Edvin away from the gangsters - yet STILL he became a casualty of the menace sweeping Britain's streets.

"I get so sad when I go to sit by his grave," she said. "I ask myself, 'What did I do wrong? "Before he died, each time I saw a murder on TV I'd call him into the room and tell him to stay away from it.

"He'd say, 'Mum, I'm not in a gang'. I thought he was safe but still they killed him."

Though Edvin grew up on south London's notorious Crawford estate, Camberwell, he had been offered a managerial job in a shop and, one week after his death, was due to start a business studies course at Southampton University.

But police sources say Edvin had also begun running with the notorious C-Block gang who operate out of the Crawford estate.

Just months earlier Edvin was accused of taking part in a violent knife attack on a German student. He was awaiting trial for GBH with malicious wounding. But police believe he lost his life in September last year in an unconnected revenge killing by a rival gang.

His mother recalled: "That day he had been to church in the morning with a friend and in the afternoon he went to the park to play football.

"In the evening he went out saying he'd be back in five minutes. But three hours later one of his friends phoned, saying: "Come quickly."

Genevive said: "I ran into the street and there were police everywhere. As I got closer another mother came up and said, 'Edvin is dead'.

"I couldn't believe it. I ran past the crowd and into the stairwell and saw a pool of blood. I just screamed. I didn't need to see his face to know it was him.

"It's been so difficult for me to cope with. One minute I was preparing him to go to university, the next he was killed.

"My son may have been no angel but to me he was a good boy. He didn't deserve to die."

Genevive's agony is compounded by the failure to catch Edvin's killer. Eleven suspects were arrested but all were released without charge. Now his mum hopes someone will now come forward with information that will allow her to get justice.

Listening to her at the roadshow was Sir Paul Stephenson, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan police. He promised his officers would work tirelessly to catch Edvin's killer.

Alongside him on the panel was former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, sister of murdered Ben Kinsella; Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory leader and campaigner for social justice; ex-Southwark Crown Court judge Gerald Butler QC; and Shaun Bailey, a dedicated youth worker.

On this final stop for the Save Our Streets battlebus, used to ferry our roadshow around the country, the 200-strong audience included Colin Knox, father of murdered Harry Potter actor Rob. Also present was Mark Prince, the dad of slain Queen Park Rangers hopeful Kiyan.

Once again, as in previous weeks, many people were eager to join the debate on how to rid our streets of violence and crime.

TONY BIOLA, of Urban Voice music project, said: "The youth on the streets today are building an army. We need to take action and not just pay lip service."

SIR PAUL STEPHENSON stepped in to defend the police, saying they were taking action which sometimes seemed unpopular. He added: "A number of people have said we aren't listening. Well, I've got to tell you the action we're taking on the streets is because communities have asked us to act.

"Mothers have told us they want us to intervene with their children. Do it politely, but do it in a way that saves young people's lives."

IAIN DUNCAN SMITH said: "The thing I will take away inscribed on my heart is that solutions lie in the communities. Whatever government is in power should make sure we get that power down to you."

Ex-Crimewatch presenter NICK ROSS, who hosted the evening, summed up: "We've got to have more things for young people to do and places for them to go, not just pay lip service. And we've got to start really young.

"There's no point getting in when somebody's done something terrible, we've got to get in early."

BROOKE KINSELLA, whose brother Ben was recently stabbed to death outside a London pub, said: "Coming here tonight has been amazing for me because -although I know that in one, two or 20 years the pain will never go away-there are people who are strong enough to go on and try to make a change."

ANYONE who knows who was reponsible for the death of Edvin Johnson is urged to call the police incident room on 0207 321 9251 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

We are so soft

YOUTH campaign chief Shaun Bailey, 36, warned our roadshow it was time to get tough. He said making boredom an excuse for crime was the wrong approach.

He added: "I believe we've become very soft.

"We concentrate on the people who've done wrong.

"But I think it's time to concentrate on those who have done RIGHT."

Shaun founded My Generation, a charity to help young people, and is standing as a Tory candidate in London.

Don't brand our kids bad

SHONIQUE BROWN, 17, was repeatedly thwarted when she tried to put on an event for youngsters. She said: "I found nowhere would allow me to hold it because they think under-18s are unruly or violent.

"If you keep calling kids that they will BE violent and unruly."

We'll beat these gangs

Alexander Rose: Lost a close friend to knife crime

ALEXANDER ROSE, 19, from the STOP anti-weapon campaign, said he steered himself clear of gangs after losing a close friend to knife crime.

But he warned: "Nowadays you've got gangs with little ones and older ones, even parents sending their kids out there. The only way we can beat them is if we join together and show them we are stronger."