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Knife-carrying down in 'hotspots' | Knife-carrying down in 'hotspots' |
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The number of teenagers caught carrying knives has fallen in areas where police have specifically targeted knife crime, according to government figures. | The number of teenagers caught carrying knives has fallen in areas where police have specifically targeted knife crime, according to government figures. |
Officers from 10 forces in England and Wales have searched 105,000 young people in the six months since the launch of a £2m Home Office campaign. | |
In June, one in 30 was caught carrying a knife. By October, it was one in 65. | In June, one in 30 was caught carrying a knife. By October, it was one in 65. |
The figures show serious injuries and deaths down 17%. In the UK in 2008, 34 teenagers have died from stab wounds. | The figures show serious injuries and deaths down 17%. In the UK in 2008, 34 teenagers have died from stab wounds. |
Twenty-three of them died in London. | Twenty-three of them died in London. |
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the BBC she welcomed the progress that had been made, but said: "We also need to prevent young people from picking up a knife in the first place." You need to have specialist detectives working on these issues Brian PaddickFormer Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Guns and knives on the streets | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the BBC she welcomed the progress that had been made, but said: "We also need to prevent young people from picking up a knife in the first place." You need to have specialist detectives working on these issues Brian PaddickFormer Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Guns and knives on the streets |
She announced that an additional £20m would be made available by government to community organisations working with young people to provide alternatives to crime. | She announced that an additional £20m would be made available by government to community organisations working with young people to provide alternatives to crime. |
"Frankly, I don't think it's an excuse [to say], 'There isn't something for me to do on a Friday night, [so I'll] carry a knife on our streets'," she said. | "Frankly, I don't think it's an excuse [to say], 'There isn't something for me to do on a Friday night, [so I'll] carry a knife on our streets'," she said. |
"But I do think in the longer run, providing those alternatives helps to ensure that young people know there is something positive that they can be doing rather than carrying a knife." | "But I do think in the longer run, providing those alternatives helps to ensure that young people know there is something positive that they can be doing rather than carrying a knife." |
Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said "concerted and tough action" was needed "in the short, medium and long term". | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said "concerted and tough action" was needed "in the short, medium and long term". |
"As well as deploying more police onto every street for good, knife offenders must face an automatic presumption of jail, not a slap on the wrist," he said. | "As well as deploying more police onto every street for good, knife offenders must face an automatic presumption of jail, not a slap on the wrist," he said. |
"We must also address the fundamental causes of crime, like drugs, unemployment and family breakdown, which Labour have simply neglected over the last 11 years." | "We must also address the fundamental causes of crime, like drugs, unemployment and family breakdown, which Labour have simply neglected over the last 11 years." |
Stop-and-search | Stop-and-search |
However, the Home Office - which launched its Tackling Knives Action Programme in June - defended its work. KNIFE CRIME CRACKDOWN 1. Lancashire2. Merseyside3. West Yorkshire4. Greater Manchester5. Nottinghamshire6. West Midlands7. South Wales8. Thames Valley9. Essex10. London | However, the Home Office - which launched its Tackling Knives Action Programme in June - defended its work. KNIFE CRIME CRACKDOWN 1. Lancashire2. Merseyside3. West Yorkshire4. Greater Manchester5. Nottinghamshire6. West Midlands7. South Wales8. Thames Valley9. Essex10. London |
It said more than 2,200 knives had been seized during targeted stop-and-search operations and that courts were getting tougher with offenders. | It said more than 2,200 knives had been seized during targeted stop-and-search operations and that courts were getting tougher with offenders. |
The home secretary said the 10 force areas taking part in the programme accounted for 80% of serious violence involving a knife. | The home secretary said the 10 force areas taking part in the programme accounted for 80% of serious violence involving a knife. |
They are London, Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley. | They are London, Essex, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Wales and Thames Valley. |
The tactics employed there include: | The tactics employed there include: |
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Former Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that stop-and-search must be used "intelligently and sensitively". | Former Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that stop-and-search must be used "intelligently and sensitively". |
He said police must develop stronger community links in order to encourage people to come forward anonymously and identify individuals who are carrying knives. | He said police must develop stronger community links in order to encourage people to come forward anonymously and identify individuals who are carrying knives. |
Mr Paddick also said that tougher enforcement was needed in more serious cases. | Mr Paddick also said that tougher enforcement was needed in more serious cases. |
"When you get to the stage where you have organised gangs then community policing is not going to cut it," he said. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | "When you get to the stage where you have organised gangs then community policing is not going to cut it," he said. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
"You need to have specialist detectives working on these issues, trying to dismantle these gangs, trying to bring cases of conspiracy to commit violent offences, which community police are not equipped to deal with." | "You need to have specialist detectives working on these issues, trying to dismantle these gangs, trying to bring cases of conspiracy to commit violent offences, which community police are not equipped to deal with." |
Actor Femi Oyeniran grew up in north London and appeared in the film Kidulthood about youth gang culture. He told the BBC that providing positive role models to black boys was vital. | Actor Femi Oyeniran grew up in north London and appeared in the film Kidulthood about youth gang culture. He told the BBC that providing positive role models to black boys was vital. |
"You need to install them with more ambition, more drive. Show them more positive young people from their community," he said. | "You need to install them with more ambition, more drive. Show them more positive young people from their community," he said. |
"People that have gone on to do better things with themselves, even though they didn't come from the most privileged background in the world." | "People that have gone on to do better things with themselves, even though they didn't come from the most privileged background in the world." |