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A suggestion for fighting knife crime (The Times)

Monday, 26th May 2008

I have a piece in today's Times on knife crime. Here's an extract:

Over the past decade, the number of convictions for carrying a knife has risen from 3,360 in 1997 to 6,314 in 2006. Of those convicted in 1997, 482 were teenagers, rising in 2006 to 1,256. That near trebling in the number of teenagers convicted is bad enough. Worse, however, are surveys showing that about one in five teenagers say that they carry a knife with them.

Given the rapid development of a teenage culture in which carrying a knife is seen as normal, not to say essential for self-defence, it is understandable that there have been calls to toughen the relevant laws. The current maximum sentence for knife carrying is two years, or four years if the knife is carried to school.

But since we do not enforce the existing laws properly, it is fatuous to suggest that tougher maximum penalties would serve any useful purpose. They would be ignored just like the existing maximum penalties.

In 2006, only nine of the 6,314 people convicted of carrying a knife were handed down a maximum sentence. Most were given a caution. And I would bet a small fortune on not one of those nine criminals - 0.14 per cent of those convicted - actually being made to serve the full sentence they were given.

Despite the penalties available, the authorities treat this potentially deadly crime as an infringement of the law akin to pilfering an apple from a grocer. This has to change. The courts must use the punishments available to them. Children need to understand that, if caught, their childhood will effectively be over and they will suffer severe punishment.

That also means that the police must be given full powers to stop and search children. But instead, not only do the courts and CPS treat children found with knives with kid gloves, dangerous idiots such as Sir Al Aynsley-Green, to whom we pay £130,000 a year for his wisdom as the Children's Commissioner for England, warn that allowing police the power to search children might antagonise them. That just about sums up how the whole edifice works: God forbid that a potential murderer is upset by having his coat examined.

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Veronica Bruce-Williams

May 26th, 2008 1:39am

I feel common sense should now dictate that 'Stop and Search' should be one of the methods used by the police, as already advocated. I do not understand people being so sentimental in their thinking that it is degrading to be stopped and searched. What utter nonsense! I believe the police must be trained to do this in a fair and civilised manner, e.g. explain to the youth why he or she is being searched. I feel this would definitely serve as a deterrent and people would think twice before carrying a weapon. Why should anyone carry a knife at all? Carrying a knife means it would be used at any given opportunity. Why can't our youths communicate? I feel this is one of the major problems. They should learn to talk to each other,express their anxieties and misunderstandings that might have arisen. Get angry at each other, exchange few words or even use their fists in the worst case scenario,which is part of growing up, instead of using knives. But alas, the truth of the matter is some of them lack the intelligence to communicate and instead use monosyllabic words or grunt,which does not make any sense and the next thing is to fall on whatever weapon they might have on them. This is very sad indeed. Communication is a way of expressing one's self, which, to me, is an important and very powerful tool, as it breaks down barriers. These youngsters need to be educated in this regard. We the parents must help and teach our children on how to speak effectively, learn to express themselves in simple English; to vent out their frustrations, insecurities, fear anxieties etc, take an interest in their well-being, let them have some sense of security and self-worth and emotionally support them. I believe this is so important and everyone should give it a considerable thought.

I become so saddened and upset every time a youth is killed so violently. Being a mother, I feel so much pain and my heart aches for these lives being wasted and the turmoil that is heaped on their families. We should all join forces in whatever way we can to tackle this 'cancerous disease',which is destroying the fibre of our society. They are the future. It is a matter for all of us and not just one section of our society. God help us all!