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/7186534.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
PM promises clampdown on knives | PM promises clampdown on knives |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Police in the UK's worst knife crime hotspots will be told to prosecute anyone caught with a blade, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. | Police in the UK's worst knife crime hotspots will be told to prosecute anyone caught with a blade, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. |
Mr Brown told The Sun that carrying knives or guns was "completely unacceptable" and that officers should stop giving offenders cautions. | Mr Brown told The Sun that carrying knives or guns was "completely unacceptable" and that officers should stop giving offenders cautions. |
The Home Office said the crackdown would apply to London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. | |
His intervention follows a string of high-profile fatal stabbings. | His intervention follows a string of high-profile fatal stabbings. |
The issue has been highlighted by the recent deaths of teenagers Faridon Alizada, 18, from Bexley, south-east London, Nassirudeen Osawe in Islington, north London, and Jack Large in Grange Hill, Essex. | The issue has been highlighted by the recent deaths of teenagers Faridon Alizada, 18, from Bexley, south-east London, Nassirudeen Osawe in Islington, north London, and Jack Large in Grange Hill, Essex. |
Lethal weapons | Lethal weapons |
Mr Brown told the newspaper: "We have to send out a message and reinforce it with action. | Mr Brown told the newspaper: "We have to send out a message and reinforce it with action. |
"It is completely unacceptable to carry a knife or a gun. Where police have previously been cautioning people, there now has to be a presumption of prosecution." | "It is completely unacceptable to carry a knife or a gun. Where police have previously been cautioning people, there now has to be a presumption of prosecution." |
A Violent Crime Action Plan would be unveiled in February by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Mr Brown said. | A Violent Crime Action Plan would be unveiled in February by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Mr Brown said. |
Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police's chief constable, has already ordered his officers to prosecute all offenders caught with knives, rather than issuing cautions. | Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police's chief constable, has already ordered his officers to prosecute all offenders caught with knives, rather than issuing cautions. |
However, Camilla Batmanghelidjh, founder of the charity Kids Company, warned that the proposals would not address the underlying causes of knife crime - gang culture and the drug trade. | However, Camilla Batmanghelidjh, founder of the charity Kids Company, warned that the proposals would not address the underlying causes of knife crime - gang culture and the drug trade. |
She added: "I think it's a good idea, but it won't solve the problem. | She added: "I think it's a good idea, but it won't solve the problem. |
"The question we need to ask is: why are children carrying knives?" | "The question we need to ask is: why are children carrying knives?" |
Mr Brown added that he wanted to use teenagers as "test purchasers" to snare retailers illegally selling blades, and that he was considering outlawing the most lethal weapons. | Mr Brown added that he wanted to use teenagers as "test purchasers" to snare retailers illegally selling blades, and that he was considering outlawing the most lethal weapons. |
He also said he was concerned about violent computer games featuring knives. | He also said he was concerned about violent computer games featuring knives. |
"No-one wants censorship or an interfering state," he said. | "No-one wants censorship or an interfering state," he said. |
"But the industry has some responsibility to society and needs to exercise that." | "But the industry has some responsibility to society and needs to exercise that." |