Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 10 July 2008

How Can We Tackle Knife Crime?

Razor posted: A spate of knife attacks has left 18 teenagers dead in London alone this year. How can we dissuade young people from carrying knives?

Russell W. Barnes posted: The problem as I see it stems from society-based issues which may take generations to undo.

How does the law currently stand on knives? Is it being applied robustly and to good effect?

Is it being stymied and misinterpreted by the relatively new Human Rights' laws?

Until we evolve into a society empowering all people of all backgrounds with the hopes and aspirations to lead civilised lives affording respect to each other, then the law must be applied - and be seen to be applied - thoroughly and fairly, and any punishment must be seen to be undertaken similarly. Examples must be set and observed.

The problem must be dealt with at source; at home, by parents, guardians, teachers, peers.

Less hand-wringing, more carrot-and-stick.

Barbara posted: For me it is the knowledge that right and wrong are simply not understood. Violence has been around for centuries.

But I guess the rising prevalance among young people needs to be understood.

It will be rooted in disadvantage and also disaffection with life, with drug and drink culture and also with poor parenting and breakdown of family life. I do not think there is an easy solution.

However, knives are offensive weapons so clearly their sale is not being regulated very well. I guess that may be a place to start.

Red_China posted: The first step surely has to be understanding why young people are carrying knives around, and why they are using them on each other.

As Barbara and RWB say the causes are likely to be a complex range of issues, that need tackling at the root. Even assuming an infinite capacity in our prisons, the solution cannot be locking kids away for carrying knives.

Without an understanding of the reasons why they are carrying knives, the rehabilitation function of imprisonment is a non-starter, so we are left with the punishment and deterrent functions.

The only way that may act as a deterrent would be if the sentence was long enough and the conditions brutal enough to make it less appealing than the consequences for these kids not carrying knives.

So these kids will come out of prison after a brutalising, punitive spell inside.