On Sunday, Coffee House ran an article by Koos Couvee, a former Enfield Advertiser journalist and contemporary of mine. It argued that knife crime will only be reduced if we legalise drugs. Young people are killing each other in turf wars over the supply of drugs with an array of horrific knives and even machetes. Couvee suggests that the violence would be reduced if drugs were legalised.
His argument is an economic one: joining a gang and dealing drugs is more lucrative than getting a job. So if you legalise drugs, the problem goes away. But if drugs are legalised, other equally nasty sources of revenue will kick in. What is not being asked and answered is why young people are carrying knives from such a young age and why they are perfectly happy to stab and kill.
When I introduced into law mandatory custodial sentences for those over 16 convicted of carrying a knife twice, it was aimed at ensuring persistent offenders understood the consequences.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in