This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6953812.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Urgency needed' on knife crime | 'Urgency needed' on knife crime |
| (20 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. | 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. | "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." |
| Mr Denham added that he was very concerned "about the heavy, heavy promotion of discounted alcohol and the culture that goes around that". | |
| "I personally - not as a minister I've got to say, but personally, as somebody who looked at these issues in the past - hope that that's something we're going to look at in the future." | |
| Increasing numbers of people do not think twice about slipping a knife into their pocket Norman Brennan, Victims of Crime Trust | |
| Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "It took two years for the government to wake up to the massive explosion in knife crime and concede to Conservative calls for an increase in the penalty for carrying knives. | |
| "The government owes it to the public to take a grip of drink, drugs, and the broken homes that have spawned this plague on modern Britain." | |
| The director of the Victims of Crime Trust, Norman Brennan, said he believed there was now "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." |