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| 'Urgency needed' on knife crime | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There must be greater urgency behind the fight to tackle knife crime and anti-social behaviour, the innovation, universities and skills secretary says. | |
| "The knife crime we have seen recently and some of the drunken behaviour - we are not where we need to be on those issues," John Denham told BBC News. | |
| Mr Denham pointed to "powerful new legislation" to fight the problem. | Mr Denham pointed to "powerful new legislation" to fight the problem. |
| His comments came as the latest teenage knife victim was named as 16-year-old Andrew Holland from Greater Manchester. | His comments came as the latest teenage knife victim was named as 16-year-old Andrew Holland from Greater Manchester. |
| Stabbed in neck | Stabbed in neck |
| Andrew collapsed after his lung was punctured when he was stabbed in the neck outside a takeaway on Friday night. He later died in hospital. | Andrew collapsed after his lung was punctured when he was stabbed in the neck outside a takeaway on Friday night. He later died in hospital. |
| His friend, who is also aged 16 and who has not been named, was also stabbed and is in a serious condition in Rochdale Infirmary. | His friend, who is also aged 16 and who has not been named, was also stabbed and is in a serious condition in Rochdale Infirmary. |
| A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and assault and remains in custody for questioning. | A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and assault and remains in custody for questioning. |
| Mr Denham said there were deeper problems underlying the rise in street violence, and perseverance was essential. | Mr Denham said there were deeper problems underlying the rise in street violence, and perseverance was essential. |
| Andrew died from a stab wound to the neck which punctured his chest | Andrew died from a stab wound to the neck which punctured his chest |
| He said: "Where there are underlying problems, like the acceptance of gang culture among young people, knife carrying or too-readily-available alcohol to young people, we have got to carry on until we have beaten the problem. | He said: "Where there are underlying problems, like the acceptance of gang culture among young people, knife carrying or too-readily-available alcohol to young people, we have got to carry on until we have beaten the problem. |
| "We have very powerful new legislation in place for the police to use to tackle these problems." | "We have very powerful new legislation in place for the police to use to tackle these problems." |
| The director of the Victims of Crime Trust, Norman Brennan, said the country was "facing a national crisis with knife crime". | The director of the Victims of Crime Trust, Norman Brennan, said the country was "facing a national crisis with knife crime". |
| He said: "Why is it that increasing numbers of people do not think twice about slipping a knife into their pocket before they leave the house? | He said: "Why is it that increasing numbers of people do not think twice about slipping a knife into their pocket before they leave the house? |
| 'Feral youngsters' | 'Feral youngsters' |
| Mr Brennan suggested three ways to tackle the problem. | Mr Brennan suggested three ways to tackle the problem. |
| He said there should be mandatory five-year sentences for carrying a knife, mass stop-and-searches and the introduction of national or community service. | He said there should be mandatory five-year sentences for carrying a knife, mass stop-and-searches and the introduction of national or community service. |
| "And police should take community leaders with them so they can see the feral youngsters who are roaming our streets. | "And police should take community leaders with them so they can see the feral youngsters who are roaming our streets. |
| "We need to introduce something to occupy the disenfranchised young people. Whether that is national service or mandatory community-based work, it would help." | "We need to introduce something to occupy the disenfranchised young people. Whether that is national service or mandatory community-based work, it would help." |