What do you think should be done to cut knife crime?
Your comments
carol kennedy
I can remember when the children at all ages had something to do!. Where have all the youth clubs and community centres gone?!. Its all right blaming the youths but when I was a child in the sixties, Mums and Dads took their children out, and most of them were in some kind of club or another after school or in the early evening. Parents, for whatever reason have stopped taking their children out to places, this teaches social skills.The schools have lost discipline,Unemployment creates its own problems. All leading to frustration,lack of money,lack of self esteem,hence crime,viciousness,eventually murder. So please Mr Brown come out of your bed of cotton wool and smell the coffee. Back the children in this country or total anarchy ensues.Carol Kennedy.
pokey
Britain needs to grow a pair and get tough!!!!! Every politician in the country is a coward, and kudos to brave columnists like carole malone and the others who speak the damn truth without a moments hesitation.
BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY!!!! Scare our children into being good, until they put down the knives and guns and teach them to behave the way we bloody well should do.
Fear and terrorism is the perfect way to control today's youth, and i bet they wouldn't act so tough if they were faced with the death penalty.
Leah
Wow - I am amazed at how many comments there are here and how sad, horrifying and frightening they are. I was at the final Roadshow with my 20 year old daughter. She set up a facebook group after her brother, my son, was stabbed five times in the back 2 weeks after his 21st birthday. He survived - Lucky we are told but the only thing that makes us feel that way is how many are dying!?? He isnt 'lucky' to be suffering the mental trauma that he now lives with, the numbness in his arm and the pain in his back that has prevented him from continuing his beloved sport football. He isnt lucky to have found himself being stabbed whilst trying to get up from the floor as a gang surrounded him for - trying to save another. As so often seems to be the case we hear about innocents who are simply trying to intervene when othres are behaving barbarically. I hope he wont do that again, that is SAD to say and I know I would find it hard to ignore someone being attacked, anywhere, anytime.
I feel very sad for those who are unfortunate to be living somewhere where these gangs are taking over. Where the mentality is taking over and the country is lagging behind unable to find appropriate ways to stop this. At the debate a young mother talked of her son being stabbed right outside her gate and having to wear a thick coat to cover his uniform and they as a family were in constant fear of it happening again. The kids who would be guilty of this would not be so different from other people's kids but they live in an envirmonment that doesnt inhibit violence. Too many people keep talking about bringing back captial punishment, about hitting and hurting children - in what way does hitting and causing injury to children help them to understand not to go out into the world and not hit or hurt anyone else??? That is where the madness exists. We are not talking about a minor smack either, these people want to hurt their kids as they beleive that is the only way to deter them from behaving badly - WRONG!!!! Hitting and hurting and putting down and humiliating your kids just teaches them 'self loathing'. When they have no respect for themselves its easier to have no respect for anyone else. Teach respect - and stop kidding yourselves its the same thing as teaching FEAR or VIOLENCE and ANGER!
Rant over - I sincerely hope that many will attend the Peoples March this Sept - you really can show your support and determination to force government and those in power to Make the Changes NOW!
Nicola Charder
I myself am a teenager and i am currently in England as I am visiting friends and relatives, I however live in asia which is a place If eel very safe and have plenty to do, therefore knife crime and violence amongst teenagers is not that commen.
As I had recently visited some friends, I can understand why knive crime has risen so dramatically. The obvious reason is due to the lack of activities for teenagers in smaller towns which is what I have experienced. Throughout my visit, The most exciting and affordable thing we could all do was sit in a park. There were no youth clubs with seating areas, food courts, cinemas, etc.. where gangs could begin to socialize and perhaps overcome their differences(which is usually why gang fights occur). There were many various parks in the same area but one day, we were kicked out for being over 12 by the police. Where else were we supposed to go?
I was also very shocked as it was also the first time I had experienced the closest thing to danger, an attempted mugging by a youth who ended up stealing my friends ciggerettes as well as threatening to "smash his face in"-luckily he left us alone.
Another thing I have noticed, is the lack of security. In asia, it is very often to see patrol police every 5-10 minuits wherever you are and police stations are open 24/7. As I have discussed this issue with my friends, I had asked how often police patrol the town. The answer was only on a friday night and that the police station was usually shut by 9pm. How can people expect to feel safe?
What we need are more police patrols to intimidate teenage gangs as well as protect civilians. Teenagers also need a cheaper and a wider choice of activities to participate in with their friends. As well as introducing harsher punishments, counciling for people who are involved with violence. Of course, these suggestions will not be enough to perminatly remove the unfortunate violence in this country.
It is however down to the parents to why teens are behaving like this as I can see the significant difference between educated and non-educated parents. My mother is very educated, and this is why I am an ambitious and educated child. This does however come down to the society we grow up in. I
t is also quite sad how this country has come to the extent of having to be 18 to buy plastic knives and forks- this is only something we can see in england and is very unfortunate- it must be solved.
martin haills
As with everything else with this so called labour goverment,they blame everything else but the right reason. All it needs is some respect and discipline bringing back into society, not so called bans, or other knee jerk methhods. Lets have proper police back on our streets. No not more of Blunketts plastic plods, lets have policeman like days gone by six foot plus tall and built like brick out houses. This would then intimidate the louts and thugs who roam the streets looking for trouble, instead of the other way round .Because nowdays these idiots have no fear of todays Labour party`s pollitical correct policing methods.
Paul
The trouble is prisons are no longer no good as they're becoming more and more like a holiday camp. The parents are also to blame - why didn't they teach them right from wrong when the kids were minors? I understand some kids do come from troubled homes but is that really an excuse to carry around a weapon - a weapon that could, and does kill another human being. Why is it innocent young people are killed for someone else’s belief that if you carry a knife you must be ‘hard’? Why should we walk around fearing for our lives that one day we should get stabbed?
What punishment is good enough for someone who goes out and kills another human being for no apparent reason? They will have to live with it themselves knowing they killed a probably innocent person, thinking of all the upset and hurt they’ve caused the family.
You, me, the person walking across the street could be the next victim of knife crime. It’s time to save our streets. What kind of world are we living in where teenagers as young as thirteen some of them walk around with weapons that are a liable threat to someone’s life?
I think that they should make jail tougher. No luxuries allowed. No TVs in cells. They should be made to do tough army exercises every day as a punishment not roam around a cell all day watching tele. It’s such a good deal in prison now a days that criminals actually go back for more. Military discipline could also be introduced. The person carrying the knife should also be sentenced for just carrying a knife. It’s not acceptable and it should be stopped immediately.
Mel Warren
Has been said before BRING BACK THE BIRCH!!!!
tina
hi,I agree to david H ouer goverment hasent got the right law of crime ,we should have bak the electrik chair in this country ,for who that do the killing rape.the goverment should now take messger for crime of vilonce guns and knifes attack and kidnaps of children the Mandatrory minum between 5 to 10 yrs prison we neet to get does of the street where is ouer human rights in this country to live in freedom i like to walke save out my door at any time . we have good ouer rights too we pay tax ,we vote and hope this law is going better but nohting happen . ps we should take ouer owen law in hand as the goverment dont do nohting abt the war in crime to live in this underworld we are crying out for help ouer future kids wont have a life if the goverment dont step in now to change the law ,war of crime
tina
the goverment is to soft in crime,and law, incl the police,myselfe I have been the victim of criminal conduct,and i cant say that the police hasent been helpfull to me they rather let the crimanal lose instet take step to juctic of crime. myselfe i live in the uk four no of yrs iam german and i cant say that this coutry is safe by law or the goverment. under age kids are walking late on the street vandalisum ,blowing cars up attack folks,burglary folkes propertys. 1000%the lokal policehave got the resindenal record who course the crime.we also have got police informer they get of the crime by the police whn they past on information for diffrent matters so is that the right law ?????
HarryO
Regarding littered streets, the root cause of the problem is two fold. First we have a lot of people who do not care about leaving litter anywhere. Then we have government both local and national who bring out proposals to limit the amount of rubbish you can put in your bin and then try to have a fortnightly collection. This causes more people to dump rubbish as it will just be left uncollected by the council. Also when litter is reported to the council, they generally do nothing about it.
Keiko
So much pain. So much loss. This is a road that goes nowhere. If maybe we can reach out to the young kids, tell them it’s not cool to have knife. Some self respect is all they search for. If maybe, we talk to them, tell them there is love in this world. I think they are listening, but all they hear is the sound of the street, empty and lonely, full of fear and self protection. So my message, is simple, you are not alone, there is another way.
Sue
There used to be a saying 'if you don't want to do the time don't do the crime', it was a good message, simple but concisely placing the responsibility with the perpetrator where it belonged, and it implied the time in prison would be relevant to the crime committed.
Unfortunately New Labour's message is 'if you want to do the crime but don't want to do the time just go ahead because you won't have to'.
I think the News of the World should tell Jacqui Smith to go away and only come back when she takes responsibility for her and her government's failings and actually puts in the tough measures needed to tackle violent crime.
David H
What a bloody cheek Jacqui Smith has. Because of her party's decision to implement human rights act and other ludicrous laws, there is basically no deterrent aginst crime. Jails are cushy and offer better living conditions than some areas of the UK. Its all very well blaiming judges for leniant sentences but they are only following laws set by the government. If Labour put as much time, effort and funds into stamping out knife crime, as it has into anti-racism, equal opportunitys for foreigners homosexuals etc,anti-smoking/alchohol and speed camera then maybe Britain would'nt resemble an African republic or South Central LA. Clearly time is running out for Labour already but after years of promising to listen to the public, Labour don't want to acknowledge that they have basically failed the UK on this issue amongst others and would rather carpet perceived racists, smoker, drivers, homophobes and any non left wing types. Mandatory 10 year sentences for carrying knives, in a tough prison would at least make people think twice about carrying knives. Pretty simple isn't it and i'm no rocket scientist!
ben
im a 53 year old man , during my school years i had the cane i had respect for my elders i feared the police i respected my parents, now days the minority of youths have no respect they have no fear of the police they have no respect for there parents,, i belive a curfew for youths up to the age of 17 would be the awnser a id card issued to youths from the age of 5 upwards to 17 these id cards to be logged at every police stations computer have holding containers so if there caught out after curfew there taken to these holding containers and there parents told to come and collect there kids ,, take away the childs benifit for a month if there caught out on the street , be damned with the human rights act forget asbos forget prisons ( unless theres been a stabbing) forget national service it wont work if any one saw bad lads army there was little respect there towards the officers in charge
the parents of these so called angels who run riot in the street should be made resonsable
Tony Regan
How dare she!!! How dare Jaqui Smith say she is commited to the SOS campaign! She is the root of this problem, She is denying that there is a problem and a knife culture. How dare she! She is a 2 face hypocrite just like the rest of the government!
the coach
carring knives, gun,etc,means only one thing, and it is not to protect yourself, you know what they can do if you use the weapon in question, you kill someone you know the intent was there when you carry, so i say untill this government sit down and think about the threat of the death pelenty been brought back no one will ever be able to do anything about this killing culture
Sevgi Polat
To be honest i really dont have much to say, the only thing i would say is thatthe reason, youths these days are causing so much trouble and doing bad thing to earn their money is because the dont get the opportunity to work they leave or get kicked out of college and thats it for them they get in to bad things e.g selling drugs, causing trouble if Gordon Brown wants the crime level to go down the he should help get jobs for these youths. once they get the opportunity to work and earn money im sure the crime level would go down, if youths dont get opportunity to work and gain experience how are the going to get experience to find a job to work. its not just for youths its mainly for everyone if you dont get the chance to work and learn practually then how else are you going to learn. i personally thing this issue should be raised and help these people to get the chance to work and earn money instead of selling drugs and geting in to trouble.
Alan
I apologise for posting twice on this matter, however, in the light of so many of those people affected by knife crime being absolutely desperate for answers to solving the problem, it is perhaps worth giving careful consideration to a simple philosophy: It is often a lot easier to change the things you can change than change the things you can’t.
For instance, giving whole life sentences or introducing the death penalty, won’t reduce offending if there isn’t a single country in the world where life sentences and death penalty reduces crime. Look at America!
Increasing stop and search powers by the police also will not halt knife as youngsters will merely find a way round the measures: Hiding weapons outdoors or paying someone to plant weapons in certain places doesn’t take much for youngsters to think of.
Bringing back old-fashioned “discipline” in the classroom and home has been mentioned too, nonetheless, it can’t really change anything because there will be an equal number of people in bygone days who did not receive discipline but did not commit crime. In other words, we assume that a good clip round the ear will force someone to change their ways, however, there will be an equal number of people who changed their ways without a good belting.
Conscription can’t work if you accept that morale in the armed forces has never been lower, while curfews merely punish parents who are already unable to cope with their children. If parents can’t cope then putting the fox in charge of the chickens serves only to make an already bad situation worse.
What can work, on the other hand, is accepting that there is only one person ultimately responsible for carrying a knife and that is the offender them self. Only the person carrying the knife can change their mindset to become a more responsible individual, and this change is happening in many small initiatives across the country. Youngsters involved in criminality are been taken under the wings of mentors who can give youngsters the confidence to think “differently” about their behaviour. It’s easy. Interested parents and volunteers can establish community groups and begin a dialogue with youngsters in a meaningful way which encourages youngster to feel part of the same community, not separate from it.
John
I recently placed bail conditions on 2 youths; at the time their parents believed them to be just what was needed -a curfew between 2100 - 0700 hrs, these kids (14-16)were part of agroup of 6 who broke into a house (not knowing the police were inside, dispite the car being outside!)
The parents are now fed up of having their little brats inside between the agreed times and are now complaining in order to have the conditions lifted.
I believe that people have a right not to be burgled! Ferral youths should have restrictions placed upon them if they cannot behave in a manner consistant with the norms of society.
Mum and Dad are now forced to supervise their child and they don't like it! Ha, like I care! as long as they are not out commiting crimes then I've done my little bit to help reduce the adverse effects there kids have on other.
The message I send is commit a crime in my area and if I can remand you then I will! if not expect very stringent bail conditions - villian don't like seeing me when they come into custody. if only the courts had a similar impact.
bruce harris
dear sir,
stop and search is a must,whether you are white, black,yellow, or green person ,if police feel that a person,or persons,are acting suspiciously,then stop and search--the police officer,will ask the person concerned,are you carrying a weapon? if so hand it over,l will confiscate the weapon,and l will take your personal details,if you are caught carrying a weapon a second time,you will go to prison,-or if the person says he is not carrying a weapon,the police officer will warn the person,that if he is searched and a weapon is found,then the person will be automatically arrested,and put in prison.it is so simple.
mr b harris
stevenage herts
Lindsey Neil
Knife crime these days is a disgrace! Earlier this year i lost the most precious thing i had in my life, my boyfriend and father of my unborn child Paul Gilbert. Lock them all up and throw away the key, the only life sentence is for the victims and there familys, they go to jail 15 years is life these days but our taxes pay for them to have 3 meals a day and freeview boxes! everything needs to be changed!
lee davis
Give us back the right to punish our kids, and put punishment back into schools,as a mum myself i do not smack my children but the threat of doin so is more than enough. This was brought about by the middle class do gooder's, that have probably not spent a whole week with there own kids due to home helps,this brilliant idea has made things how they are today,what chance have our youngster's got when we are bein punished because our kids will not go to school? our hands are tied, as for knife crime, my motto would be, " USE A KNIFE, GET LIFE" you would get a min 5 yr sentence if stopped carrying a gun, a knife can kill too, infact i think to use a knife is worse, to actually feel a knife punture somebody's body? and then to do it again and again is pure evil, you know exactly what your doin.
Alan
Absent fathers and family breakdowns are not the causes of knife crime if only one fifth of crimes are committed by youngsters (adults commit the other four fifths). Hence, statistically speaking, the more contact youngsters have with adults, the more, not less, likely they are to come across criminality. That’s simple.
Another aspect of social behaviour not often brought in to the equation when discussing knife crime, is how the relationship between family and family, neighbour and neighbour, public and their service providers and employee and employer has also broken down dramatically. Families often have little confidence in discussing problems they are experiencing, because, as research has shown, other family members sometimes think the cry for help may be to seek or attention or bring about unwanted public attention once the news gets out. Also, since the inception of local authority ‘anti-social behaviour units’ it has now become commonplace for neighbours to simply report children for the least bit thing -no wonder then that 80pc of complaints received are about children and not the four fifths of adults who commit crime. Children have become stigmatised and communities have thus become a breeding ground for hatred between neighbours. Over the last decade or so the public have therefore lost faith in local authorities and the police. This, while ‘partnership working’ (I do loath that piece of modern cant) has seen the morale of staff drop dramatically by constantly being subjected to change after change. There is no real partnership working in the true sense of the term, not least because communities as a whole have switched off to what decision makers and politicians are saying. The truth is that communities could not care less about what is happening, and that, I’m afraid, is the stark reality.
The only way forward I can see from my decades of working in the voluntary sector, is for decision makers to be begin a process of instilling a sense of confidence in communities that knife crime and the underlying social problems with be addressed in a more meaningful way. I note with great interest that David Cameron is saying that he wants to bring ‘responsibility’ back into to the heart of the family agenda, yet is short on words about how this might be achieved. Please tell me how this will be achieved? Can someone tell me how the process of encouraging everyone in communities to discuss this will take place?
Donna McKearney
I live in Beckton, east london. I've been at my address for over 14years, slowly over the years it's changed so much. Fights, Knives and even Shotings are happening down our street. The kids that come down here have NO RESPECT, they spit, or swear at a lot of the residents. Some people will not walk down our road. I unfortunatly put sole blame on the parants, most of them are to lazy to keep them in control. They need to take control of there kids, i have 3 boys age 21,19 and 14. They Dont smoke, and have NEVER been in trouble with the police,ive got them to be open with me and ive been open with them. I have been strict with them but its worked. I use to be able to go anywhere safely, but now i can't!!!. The goverment REALLY needs to sort something out.
M MACKEY
WHAT CHANCE HAVE WE GOT DRUG DEALERS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL OUR PROBLEMS THE GOVT CANT EVEN CONTROL DRUGS IN JAILS THEY LIVE IN EVERY STREET THE POLICE KNOW THEM BUT DO NOTHING THEY ARE KILLING AND MAKEING KIDS GO OFF THERE HEADS INSTEAD OF PAYING MILLIONS FOR HEALTHY EATING ANDSMOKEING GET RID OF THE DEALERS COME ON LIVE IN OUR WORLD ALL TONY AND JACK DONE FOR US WAS SEND YOUNG MEN TO WAR AND FLOOD SCOTLAND WITH IMAGRINTS TO BEG ON OUR STREETS AND SELL THE BIG ISSUE WE CANT GET A HOUSE BUT JACK TOLD US WE NEED THEM WERE IS JACK AND TONY NOW AFTER LEAVEING A LAWLESS SINKING SHIP HELP US NOW
Comment number: 6a00d83451ba0b69e201156f988ad8970c
Offensive? Report commentI can remember when the children at all ages had something to do!. Where have all the youth clubs and community centres gone?!. Its all right blaming the youths but when I was a child in the sixties, Mums and Dads took their children out, and most of them were in some kind of club or another after school or in the early evening. Parents, for whatever reason have stopped taking their children out to places, this teaches social skills.The schools have lost discipline,Unemployment creates its own problems. All leading to frustration,lack of money,lack of self esteem,hence crime,viciousness,eventually murder. So please Mr Brown come out of your bed of cotton wool and smell the coffee. Back the children in this country or total anarchy ensues.Carol Kennedy.
Comment number: 130897478
Offensive? Report commentBritain needs to grow a pair and get tough!!!!! Every politician in the country is a coward, and kudos to brave columnists like carole malone and the others who speak the damn truth without a moments hesitation.
BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY!!!! Scare our children into being good, until they put down the knives and guns and teach them to behave the way we bloody well should do.
Fear and terrorism is the perfect way to control today's youth, and i bet they wouldn't act so tough if they were faced with the death penalty.
Comment number: 128275594
Offensive? Report commentWow - I am amazed at how many comments there are here and how sad, horrifying and frightening they are. I was at the final Roadshow with my 20 year old daughter. She set up a facebook group after her brother, my son, was stabbed five times in the back 2 weeks after his 21st birthday. He survived - Lucky we are told but the only thing that makes us feel that way is how many are dying!?? He isnt 'lucky' to be suffering the mental trauma that he now lives with, the numbness in his arm and the pain in his back that has prevented him from continuing his beloved sport football. He isnt lucky to have found himself being stabbed whilst trying to get up from the floor as a gang surrounded him for - trying to save another. As so often seems to be the case we hear about innocents who are simply trying to intervene when othres are behaving barbarically. I hope he wont do that again, that is SAD to say and I know I would find it hard to ignore someone being attacked, anywhere, anytime.
I feel very sad for those who are unfortunate to be living somewhere where these gangs are taking over. Where the mentality is taking over and the country is lagging behind unable to find appropriate ways to stop this. At the debate a young mother talked of her son being stabbed right outside her gate and having to wear a thick coat to cover his uniform and they as a family were in constant fear of it happening again. The kids who would be guilty of this would not be so different from other people's kids but they live in an envirmonment that doesnt inhibit violence. Too many people keep talking about bringing back captial punishment, about hitting and hurting children - in what way does hitting and causing injury to children help them to understand not to go out into the world and not hit or hurt anyone else??? That is where the madness exists. We are not talking about a minor smack either, these people want to hurt their kids as they beleive that is the only way to deter them from behaving badly - WRONG!!!! Hitting and hurting and putting down and humiliating your kids just teaches them 'self loathing'. When they have no respect for themselves its easier to have no respect for anyone else. Teach respect - and stop kidding yourselves its the same thing as teaching FEAR or VIOLENCE and ANGER!
Rant over - I sincerely hope that many will attend the Peoples March this Sept - you really can show your support and determination to force government and those in power to Make the Changes NOW!
Comment number: 125944918
Offensive? Report commentI myself am a teenager and i am currently in England as I am visiting friends and relatives, I however live in asia which is a place If eel very safe and have plenty to do, therefore knife crime and violence amongst teenagers is not that commen.
As I had recently visited some friends, I can understand why knive crime has risen so dramatically. The obvious reason is due to the lack of activities for teenagers in smaller towns which is what I have experienced. Throughout my visit, The most exciting and affordable thing we could all do was sit in a park. There were no youth clubs with seating areas, food courts, cinemas, etc.. where gangs could begin to socialize and perhaps overcome their differences(which is usually why gang fights occur). There were many various parks in the same area but one day, we were kicked out for being over 12 by the police. Where else were we supposed to go?
I was also very shocked as it was also the first time I had experienced the closest thing to danger, an attempted mugging by a youth who ended up stealing my friends ciggerettes as well as threatening to "smash his face in"-luckily he left us alone.
Another thing I have noticed, is the lack of security. In asia, it is very often to see patrol police every 5-10 minuits wherever you are and police stations are open 24/7. As I have discussed this issue with my friends, I had asked how often police patrol the town. The answer was only on a friday night and that the police station was usually shut by 9pm. How can people expect to feel safe?
What we need are more police patrols to intimidate teenage gangs as well as protect civilians. Teenagers also need a cheaper and a wider choice of activities to participate in with their friends. As well as introducing harsher punishments, counciling for people who are involved with violence. Of course, these suggestions will not be enough to perminatly remove the unfortunate violence in this country.
It is however down to the parents to why teens are behaving like this as I can see the significant difference between educated and non-educated parents. My mother is very educated, and this is why I am an ambitious and educated child. This does however come down to the society we grow up in. I
t is also quite sad how this country has come to the extent of having to be 18 to buy plastic knives and forks- this is only something we can see in england and is very unfortunate- it must be solved.
Comment number: 125914172
Offensive? Report commentAs with everything else with this so called labour goverment,they blame everything else but the right reason. All it needs is some respect and discipline bringing back into society, not so called bans, or other knee jerk methhods. Lets have proper police back on our streets. No not more of Blunketts plastic plods, lets have policeman like days gone by six foot plus tall and built like brick out houses. This would then intimidate the louts and thugs who roam the streets looking for trouble, instead of the other way round .Because nowdays these idiots have no fear of todays Labour party`s pollitical correct policing methods.
Comment number: 125913990
Offensive? Report commentThe trouble is prisons are no longer no good as they're becoming more and more like a holiday camp. The parents are also to blame - why didn't they teach them right from wrong when the kids were minors? I understand some kids do come from troubled homes but is that really an excuse to carry around a weapon - a weapon that could, and does kill another human being. Why is it innocent young people are killed for someone else’s belief that if you carry a knife you must be ‘hard’? Why should we walk around fearing for our lives that one day we should get stabbed?
What punishment is good enough for someone who goes out and kills another human being for no apparent reason? They will have to live with it themselves knowing they killed a probably innocent person, thinking of all the upset and hurt they’ve caused the family.
You, me, the person walking across the street could be the next victim of knife crime. It’s time to save our streets. What kind of world are we living in where teenagers as young as thirteen some of them walk around with weapons that are a liable threat to someone’s life?
I think that they should make jail tougher. No luxuries allowed. No TVs in cells. They should be made to do tough army exercises every day as a punishment not roam around a cell all day watching tele. It’s such a good deal in prison now a days that criminals actually go back for more. Military discipline could also be introduced. The person carrying the knife should also be sentenced for just carrying a knife. It’s not acceptable and it should be stopped immediately.
Comment number: 125907860
Offensive? Report commentHas been said before BRING BACK THE BIRCH!!!!
Comment number: 125907118
Offensive? Report commenthi,I agree to david H ouer goverment hasent got the right law of crime ,we should have bak the electrik chair in this country ,for who that do the killing rape.the goverment should now take messger for crime of vilonce guns and knifes attack and kidnaps of children the Mandatrory minum between 5 to 10 yrs prison we neet to get does of the street where is ouer human rights in this country to live in freedom i like to walke save out my door at any time . we have good ouer rights too we pay tax ,we vote and hope this law is going better but nohting happen . ps we should take ouer owen law in hand as the goverment dont do nohting abt the war in crime to live in this underworld we are crying out for help ouer future kids wont have a life if the goverment dont step in now to change the law ,war of crime
Comment number: 125901158
Offensive? Report commentthe goverment is to soft in crime,and law, incl the police,myselfe I have been the victim of criminal conduct,and i cant say that the police hasent been helpfull to me they rather let the crimanal lose instet take step to juctic of crime. myselfe i live in the uk four no of yrs iam german and i cant say that this coutry is safe by law or the goverment. under age kids are walking late on the street vandalisum ,blowing cars up attack folks,burglary folkes propertys. 1000%the lokal policehave got the resindenal record who course the crime.we also have got police informer they get of the crime by the police whn they past on information for diffrent matters so is that the right law ?????
Comment number: 125895400
Offensive? Report commentRegarding littered streets, the root cause of the problem is two fold. First we have a lot of people who do not care about leaving litter anywhere. Then we have government both local and national who bring out proposals to limit the amount of rubbish you can put in your bin and then try to have a fortnightly collection. This causes more people to dump rubbish as it will just be left uncollected by the council. Also when litter is reported to the council, they generally do nothing about it.
Comment number: 125880342
Offensive? Report commentSo much pain. So much loss. This is a road that goes nowhere. If maybe we can reach out to the young kids, tell them it’s not cool to have knife. Some self respect is all they search for. If maybe, we talk to them, tell them there is love in this world. I think they are listening, but all they hear is the sound of the street, empty and lonely, full of fear and self protection. So my message, is simple, you are not alone, there is another way.
Comment number: 124532624
Offensive? Report commentThere used to be a saying 'if you don't want to do the time don't do the crime', it was a good message, simple but concisely placing the responsibility with the perpetrator where it belonged, and it implied the time in prison would be relevant to the crime committed.
Unfortunately New Labour's message is 'if you want to do the crime but don't want to do the time just go ahead because you won't have to'.
I think the News of the World should tell Jacqui Smith to go away and only come back when she takes responsibility for her and her government's failings and actually puts in the tough measures needed to tackle violent crime.
Comment number: 124532626
Offensive? Report commentWhat a bloody cheek Jacqui Smith has. Because of her party's decision to implement human rights act and other ludicrous laws, there is basically no deterrent aginst crime. Jails are cushy and offer better living conditions than some areas of the UK. Its all very well blaiming judges for leniant sentences but they are only following laws set by the government. If Labour put as much time, effort and funds into stamping out knife crime, as it has into anti-racism, equal opportunitys for foreigners homosexuals etc,anti-smoking/alchohol and speed camera then maybe Britain would'nt resemble an African republic or South Central LA. Clearly time is running out for Labour already but after years of promising to listen to the public, Labour don't want to acknowledge that they have basically failed the UK on this issue amongst others and would rather carpet perceived racists, smoker, drivers, homophobes and any non left wing types. Mandatory 10 year sentences for carrying knives, in a tough prison would at least make people think twice about carrying knives. Pretty simple isn't it and i'm no rocket scientist!
Comment number: 124532630
Offensive? Report commentim a 53 year old man , during my school years i had the cane i had respect for my elders i feared the police i respected my parents, now days the minority of youths have no respect they have no fear of the police they have no respect for there parents,, i belive a curfew for youths up to the age of 17 would be the awnser a id card issued to youths from the age of 5 upwards to 17 these id cards to be logged at every police stations computer have holding containers so if there caught out after curfew there taken to these holding containers and there parents told to come and collect there kids ,, take away the childs benifit for a month if there caught out on the street , be damned with the human rights act forget asbos forget prisons ( unless theres been a stabbing) forget national service it wont work if any one saw bad lads army there was little respect there towards the officers in charge
the parents of these so called angels who run riot in the street should be made resonsable
Comment number: 124532634
Offensive? Report commentHow dare she!!! How dare Jaqui Smith say she is commited to the SOS campaign! She is the root of this problem, She is denying that there is a problem and a knife culture. How dare she! She is a 2 face hypocrite just like the rest of the government!
Comment number: 124532638
Offensive? Report commentcarring knives, gun,etc,means only one thing, and it is not to protect yourself, you know what they can do if you use the weapon in question, you kill someone you know the intent was there when you carry, so i say untill this government sit down and think about the threat of the death pelenty been brought back no one will ever be able to do anything about this killing culture
Comment number: 124532640
Offensive? Report commentTo be honest i really dont have much to say, the only thing i would say is thatthe reason, youths these days are causing so much trouble and doing bad thing to earn their money is because the dont get the opportunity to work they leave or get kicked out of college and thats it for them they get in to bad things e.g selling drugs, causing trouble if Gordon Brown wants the crime level to go down the he should help get jobs for these youths. once they get the opportunity to work and earn money im sure the crime level would go down, if youths dont get opportunity to work and gain experience how are the going to get experience to find a job to work. its not just for youths its mainly for everyone if you dont get the chance to work and learn practually then how else are you going to learn. i personally thing this issue should be raised and help these people to get the chance to work and earn money instead of selling drugs and geting in to trouble.
Comment number: 124532644
Offensive? Report commentI apologise for posting twice on this matter, however, in the light of so many of those people affected by knife crime being absolutely desperate for answers to solving the problem, it is perhaps worth giving careful consideration to a simple philosophy: It is often a lot easier to change the things you can change than change the things you can’t.
For instance, giving whole life sentences or introducing the death penalty, won’t reduce offending if there isn’t a single country in the world where life sentences and death penalty reduces crime. Look at America!
Increasing stop and search powers by the police also will not halt knife as youngsters will merely find a way round the measures: Hiding weapons outdoors or paying someone to plant weapons in certain places doesn’t take much for youngsters to think of.
Bringing back old-fashioned “discipline” in the classroom and home has been mentioned too, nonetheless, it can’t really change anything because there will be an equal number of people in bygone days who did not receive discipline but did not commit crime. In other words, we assume that a good clip round the ear will force someone to change their ways, however, there will be an equal number of people who changed their ways without a good belting.
Conscription can’t work if you accept that morale in the armed forces has never been lower, while curfews merely punish parents who are already unable to cope with their children. If parents can’t cope then putting the fox in charge of the chickens serves only to make an already bad situation worse.
What can work, on the other hand, is accepting that there is only one person ultimately responsible for carrying a knife and that is the offender them self. Only the person carrying the knife can change their mindset to become a more responsible individual, and this change is happening in many small initiatives across the country. Youngsters involved in criminality are been taken under the wings of mentors who can give youngsters the confidence to think “differently” about their behaviour. It’s easy. Interested parents and volunteers can establish community groups and begin a dialogue with youngsters in a meaningful way which encourages youngster to feel part of the same community, not separate from it.
Comment number: 124532646
Offensive? Report commentI recently placed bail conditions on 2 youths; at the time their parents believed them to be just what was needed -a curfew between 2100 - 0700 hrs, these kids (14-16)were part of agroup of 6 who broke into a house (not knowing the police were inside, dispite the car being outside!)
The parents are now fed up of having their little brats inside between the agreed times and are now complaining in order to have the conditions lifted.
I believe that people have a right not to be burgled! Ferral youths should have restrictions placed upon them if they cannot behave in a manner consistant with the norms of society.
Mum and Dad are now forced to supervise their child and they don't like it! Ha, like I care! as long as they are not out commiting crimes then I've done my little bit to help reduce the adverse effects there kids have on other.
The message I send is commit a crime in my area and if I can remand you then I will! if not expect very stringent bail conditions - villian don't like seeing me when they come into custody. if only the courts had a similar impact.
Comment number: 124532652
Offensive? Report commentdear sir,
stop and search is a must,whether you are white, black,yellow, or green person ,if police feel that a person,or persons,are acting suspiciously,then stop and search--the police officer,will ask the person concerned,are you carrying a weapon? if so hand it over,l will confiscate the weapon,and l will take your personal details,if you are caught carrying a weapon a second time,you will go to prison,-or if the person says he is not carrying a weapon,the police officer will warn the person,that if he is searched and a weapon is found,then the person will be automatically arrested,and put in prison.it is so simple.
mr b harris
stevenage herts
Comment number: 124532654
Offensive? Report commentKnife crime these days is a disgrace! Earlier this year i lost the most precious thing i had in my life, my boyfriend and father of my unborn child Paul Gilbert. Lock them all up and throw away the key, the only life sentence is for the victims and there familys, they go to jail 15 years is life these days but our taxes pay for them to have 3 meals a day and freeview boxes! everything needs to be changed!
Comment number: 124532658
Offensive? Report commentGive us back the right to punish our kids, and put punishment back into schools,as a mum myself i do not smack my children but the threat of doin so is more than enough. This was brought about by the middle class do gooder's, that have probably not spent a whole week with there own kids due to home helps,this brilliant idea has made things how they are today,what chance have our youngster's got when we are bein punished because our kids will not go to school? our hands are tied, as for knife crime, my motto would be, " USE A KNIFE, GET LIFE" you would get a min 5 yr sentence if stopped carrying a gun, a knife can kill too, infact i think to use a knife is worse, to actually feel a knife punture somebody's body? and then to do it again and again is pure evil, you know exactly what your doin.
Comment number: 124532662
Offensive? Report commentAbsent fathers and family breakdowns are not the causes of knife crime if only one fifth of crimes are committed by youngsters (adults commit the other four fifths). Hence, statistically speaking, the more contact youngsters have with adults, the more, not less, likely they are to come across criminality. That’s simple.
Another aspect of social behaviour not often brought in to the equation when discussing knife crime, is how the relationship between family and family, neighbour and neighbour, public and their service providers and employee and employer has also broken down dramatically. Families often have little confidence in discussing problems they are experiencing, because, as research has shown, other family members sometimes think the cry for help may be to seek or attention or bring about unwanted public attention once the news gets out. Also, since the inception of local authority ‘anti-social behaviour units’ it has now become commonplace for neighbours to simply report children for the least bit thing -no wonder then that 80pc of complaints received are about children and not the four fifths of adults who commit crime. Children have become stigmatised and communities have thus become a breeding ground for hatred between neighbours. Over the last decade or so the public have therefore lost faith in local authorities and the police. This, while ‘partnership working’ (I do loath that piece of modern cant) has seen the morale of staff drop dramatically by constantly being subjected to change after change. There is no real partnership working in the true sense of the term, not least because communities as a whole have switched off to what decision makers and politicians are saying. The truth is that communities could not care less about what is happening, and that, I’m afraid, is the stark reality.
The only way forward I can see from my decades of working in the voluntary sector, is for decision makers to be begin a process of instilling a sense of confidence in communities that knife crime and the underlying social problems with be addressed in a more meaningful way. I note with great interest that David Cameron is saying that he wants to bring ‘responsibility’ back into to the heart of the family agenda, yet is short on words about how this might be achieved. Please tell me how this will be achieved? Can someone tell me how the process of encouraging everyone in communities to discuss this will take place?
Comment number: 124532664
Offensive? Report commentI live in Beckton, east london. I've been at my address for over 14years, slowly over the years it's changed so much. Fights, Knives and even Shotings are happening down our street. The kids that come down here have NO RESPECT, they spit, or swear at a lot of the residents. Some people will not walk down our road. I unfortunatly put sole blame on the parants, most of them are to lazy to keep them in control. They need to take control of there kids, i have 3 boys age 21,19 and 14. They Dont smoke, and have NEVER been in trouble with the police,ive got them to be open with me and ive been open with them. I have been strict with them but its worked. I use to be able to go anywhere safely, but now i can't!!!. The goverment REALLY needs to sort something out.
Comment number: 124532668
Offensive? Report commentWHAT CHANCE HAVE WE GOT DRUG DEALERS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL OUR PROBLEMS THE GOVT CANT EVEN CONTROL DRUGS IN JAILS THEY LIVE IN EVERY STREET THE POLICE KNOW THEM BUT DO NOTHING THEY ARE KILLING AND MAKEING KIDS GO OFF THERE HEADS INSTEAD OF PAYING MILLIONS FOR HEALTHY EATING ANDSMOKEING GET RID OF THE DEALERS COME ON LIVE IN OUR WORLD ALL TONY AND JACK DONE FOR US WAS SEND YOUNG MEN TO WAR AND FLOOD SCOTLAND WITH IMAGRINTS TO BEG ON OUR STREETS AND SELL THE BIG ISSUE WE CANT GET A HOUSE BUT JACK TOLD US WE NEED THEM WERE IS JACK AND TONY NOW AFTER LEAVEING A LAWLESS SINKING SHIP HELP US NOW