Stephen Graham calls for government to do more to combat violence against women

Stephen Graham calls for government to do more to combat violence against women EXCLUSIVE: The actor was speaking at an event to promote his new book 'Letters To Our Sons'. It includes emotional notes dads, including Danny Dyer and Ashley Walters, have written to their offspring Actor Stephen Graham has called on the government to get tougher on violence against women and girls. The Adolescence creator and star also believes young boys need better education regarding their behaviour toward women to create societal change and says parents have a key part to play. Graham, 53, spoke about how things need to change by citing a court case where he said a young boy was given just six months in custody for stabbing a girl. The dad-of-two said: "He didn't kill her, but he stabbed her violently and viciously and yet I think he got something like six months. I'm not completely sure, but we need to look at this system." Graham added: "Women aren't afraid of women breaking into their houses, women aren't afraid of women raping them, women aren't afraid of women who violently attack them... women are afraid of men. "We need to look at that as a society and we need to look at ourselves and we need to start this conversation at a very young age and we need to make sure we fill our boys, our young men, with the capabilities to be masculine. But we need to really look at that and start to teach our young boys respect, compassion and empathy for women." Graham was speaking at an event to promote his new book 'Letters To Our Sons' at Central Hall Westminster on Thursday night. The tome includes emotional notes dads have written to their sons in a bid to reach out to them and help them. He recruited famous pals, including Danny Dyer and Ashley Walters, as well as ordinary people, to pen inspiring letters to their offspring. The book comes after hit TV show Adolescence, which centred on a 13-year-old boy being arrested for murdering a classmate and explored issues of toxic masculinity and the malignant power of online influencers over teens. It won a raft of awards, including four Baftas, and was even discussed in Parliament, with then Prime Minister Keir Starmer praising it. Graham and the show's writer Jack Thorne were also later invited to speak in Parliament. Speaking about the show, Graham said: "It taught me that we need to be vulnerable, because we need to listen. We need to give [our children] a platform to be able to talk to us and let us into what's going on in their world. "Make sure you spend the time to get to speak to your children on what's going on and give them that safe place to talk. Knock on the door, begin those lines of communication, talk to them, make sure there's an environment where you can be honest and you can be open and be curious, ask questions, don't be afraid to ask questions." He added: "I think it's imperative for us to show our emotions. What is there to be afraid of? I'm not afraid to bare my soul. I'm surrounded by people who love me and people who I love and I've worked really hard to get into that position." Graham was brought up by his mum and stepdad, who he calls 'Pops', from the age of 10. Speaking about his biological dad, he said: "He was only 17 when he had me. My mum was only 20 and he didn't have the skills, he didn't have the capability to be a dad to me. But then I was very blessed because Pops fell in love with my mum and he fell in love with me." Graham said his 'Pops' is mixed-race, like him, and taught him about his Black heritage, including civil rights heroes Martin Luther-King and Malcolm X. He said: "He gave me that sense of cultural security because as a mixed-race kid growing up, I know I don't look particularly dark, but I am and that was a difficult place to navigate." Speaking about being a dad himself to his daughter Grace, 21, and son Alfie, 19, he added: "I try to be the best dad I can. I've learned from my own experiences and I am extremely present, but that takes time. Every relationship takes work, especially the relationship with our children. "You just have to make sure that you're there to listen, really listen. I think that's a skill that took me a while to be able to sit in a position to really listen to what they're saying and be there for them. To be present is the most beautiful thing we have."