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| Jail knife carriers, says Cameron | Jail knife carriers, says Cameron |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Anyone caught carrying a knife in public should be sent to jail, Conservative leader David Cameron says. | Anyone caught carrying a knife in public should be sent to jail, Conservative leader David Cameron says. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has argued that anyone over 16 caught with an illegal knife should be prosecuted, rather than escaping with a caution. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has argued that anyone over 16 caught with an illegal knife should be prosecuted, rather than escaping with a caution. |
| But Mr Cameron says the presumption should be that anyone convicted of carrying a knife should go to prison. | But Mr Cameron says the presumption should be that anyone convicted of carrying a knife should go to prison. |
| Currently, around a third of those found with offensive weapons receive only a caution or final warning. | Currently, around a third of those found with offensive weapons receive only a caution or final warning. |
| Mr Cameron's comments come after a number of high-profile knife murders have seen 18 young people die in London alone this year. | Mr Cameron's comments come after a number of high-profile knife murders have seen 18 young people die in London alone this year. |
| 'No excuse' | 'No excuse' |
| According to Home Office figures, 17% of people prosecuted for carrying a knife went to prison in 2006, compared with 6% in 1996. The average sentence length has increased by almost a third over the same period. | According to Home Office figures, 17% of people prosecuted for carrying a knife went to prison in 2006, compared with 6% in 1996. The average sentence length has increased by almost a third over the same period. |
| Mr Cameron says knife crime is now a problem of "epidemic proportions" in the UK. | Mr Cameron says knife crime is now a problem of "epidemic proportions" in the UK. |
| We're talking about mainly young people carrying knives as part of a culture. That culture has to stop David CameronConservative leader | We're talking about mainly young people carrying knives as part of a culture. That culture has to stop David CameronConservative leader |
| "We have to send the strongest possible message that carrying a knife is completely unacceptable in Britain, end of subject," he told The Sun. | "We have to send the strongest possible message that carrying a knife is completely unacceptable in Britain, end of subject," he told The Sun. |
| "The government should not just say there is a presumption you will be prosecuted if you carry a knife - but that there is a presumption you will go to jail. | "The government should not just say there is a presumption you will be prosecuted if you carry a knife - but that there is a presumption you will go to jail. |
| "It is not a minor offence. There is no excuse for carrying a knife when you walk out of your door." | "It is not a minor offence. There is no excuse for carrying a knife when you walk out of your door." |
| The Tory leader urged police to exercise "common sense" by not prosecuting people carrying penknives for angling, or for bringing home kitchen or garden equipment from the shops. | The Tory leader urged police to exercise "common sense" by not prosecuting people carrying penknives for angling, or for bringing home kitchen or garden equipment from the shops. |
| "This is about kitchen knives stuffed down the front of tracksuits," he said. | "This is about kitchen knives stuffed down the front of tracksuits," he said. |
| "We're talking about mainly young people carrying knives as part of a culture. That culture has to stop." | "We're talking about mainly young people carrying knives as part of a culture. That culture has to stop." |
| Debate | Debate |
| Mr Cameron has previously prompted headlines suggesting he wanted to "hug a hoodie" when he argued there should be greater understanding for young people. | Mr Cameron has previously prompted headlines suggesting he wanted to "hug a hoodie" when he argued there should be greater understanding for young people. |
| But he added: "When they step over the line, I'm a Tory. I believe in tough responses, in the law coming down on people like a ton of bricks." | But he added: "When they step over the line, I'm a Tory. I believe in tough responses, in the law coming down on people like a ton of bricks." |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Mr Cameron is set to address the issue during a speech in Glasgow on "fixing our broken society". | Mr Cameron is set to address the issue during a speech in Glasgow on "fixing our broken society". |
| He is being accompanied by ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, chairman of the Centre for Social Justice, and the Tories' Glasgow East by-election candidate, Davena Rankin. | He is being accompanied by ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, chairman of the Centre for Social Justice, and the Tories' Glasgow East by-election candidate, Davena Rankin. |
| Meanwhile Home Office Minister Tony McNulty says he wants a debate over how much detail can be released by the NHS on knife crime. | Meanwhile Home Office Minister Tony McNulty says he wants a debate over how much detail can be released by the NHS on knife crime. |
| Casualty | |
| At the moment gunshot wounds have to be reported to police, stab wounds do not have to be reported. | At the moment gunshot wounds have to be reported to police, stab wounds do not have to be reported. |
| It follows an investigation by the Independent on Sunday which suggested that almost 14,000 people a year have become victims of knife attacks in Britain and there has been a massive rise in hospital admissions. | It follows an investigation by the Independent on Sunday which suggested that almost 14,000 people a year have become victims of knife attacks in Britain and there has been a massive rise in hospital admissions. |
| Mr McNulty says the figures must be made clear - despite problems with privacy. | Mr McNulty says the figures must be made clear - despite problems with privacy. |
| "I know again there is a balance between an individual's privacy in terms of turning up at a casualty and the national health system providing those figures so that we all know the full extent of knife injuries," he told the Adam Boulton show on Sky News. | "I know again there is a balance between an individual's privacy in terms of turning up at a casualty and the national health system providing those figures so that we all know the full extent of knife injuries," he told the Adam Boulton show on Sky News. |
| "And I think there really should be a debate about that and one that I am trying to pursue with my health colleagues." | "And I think there really should be a debate about that and one that I am trying to pursue with my health colleagues." |