Dealing with knife crime?

Whooaa there aka if you read my OP I did not reveal my thoughts just asked the question.
I'm not in favour of locking away thousands more juveniles every year. Teenage boys - and not just the ones in gangs - are the primary victims of knife crime. I can easily imagine that one of my sons, when 14 or 15 or even older, would have been terrified if they thought knives were common and would have been daft enough to think that carrying one would give them protection. Many GNners have grandsons who might fall into a similar trap. Just as many intelligent, educated Americans are convinced that having a gun in their house will protect them from an armed robber.

many of the kids asked to carry knives are in Primary schools... not sure that frightened kids forced to carry knives benefit from a punitive regime

This is what carrying a knife brings:

www.tybuk.com/

I have met Jane, and how she holds it together is beyond me

Unless it is woke related, you should not carry a knife - the police are not stupid and can differentiate between a scally who carries a knife for no good, and a woodworker...

If caught twice,then they need a punishment - hopefully one that makes them aware of the consequences

and don't get me started on guns....

Yes I do remember that POGS.
I'm not suggesting that anyone who carries any offensive weapon shouldn't be brought to justice, I just agree with Penstemmon about mandatory sentences.
Who decides what a mandatory sentence is - Parliament or the Judiciary?
If it is the former then that is wrong, IMO.
Parliament makes the law, and the Judiciary applies it.
If you have mandatory sentencing then Parliament is usurping the role of the Judiciary.

It's not a knee jerk reaction to Ann Maguire, it has been debated for a while.

This has been on the cards for a while, do you remember the tragic death of Ben Kinsella, his sister was Brooke Kinsella an actress in East Enders. There has been a long standing connection between the Conservatives and Brooke and it it looks as though they have come to a conclusion on what they think should happen.

It will no doubt pass through legislation as Labour are looking like they are going to back the government, Lib Dems won't have enough numbers to vote it down.

I think the purpose is to stop knife crime amongst young people. And if the murder of that poor teacher has brought it to a head, so be it.

Not sure I agree with your last sentence. (Am talking Young Offenders rather than adult prisons)

I wonder what this idea of a mandatory sentence is trying to achieve, exactly.
Is it a knee-jerk reaction to the murder of Ann Maguire?
It seems doubtful that the thought of a jail sentence for carrying the knife would have prevented this tragedy.
Jingl I don't think that young people who go into prison benefit from the experience in any way.

If the child carrying the knife had been coerced into carrying it, then that child would very likely benefit from being taken out of that community for a while.

I think a strong message has to be got across, for the sake of all children, especially the ones who don't carry knives. (And, God help us, their teachers).

There is a mandatory five year prison sentence for carrying a gun. The same should be brought in for carrying a knife. And make sure the kids know about it. And it should be enforced vigorously. No ifs or buts.

Sun seeker

I don't know.

I guess I am thinking of the type of 'boot camp' that we have seen on t.v over recent years. They are not all about punishment, whilst that is required, they give a sense of worth and feeling good about what is possible to achieve in life.

Wasn't the "Boot Camp" solution tried some years ago - I remember a policeman telling me all it did was make the kids coming out stronger and fitter than when they went in - it did nothing to stop most of them reoffending.

It sounds about right to me.

I do take Penstemmon's point re kids and gangs. There must be poor little devils all over the UK who have so much pressure on them their day to day life must be a living nightmare full of fear.

I think that there should be a different type of punishment for under 16's. I think it worth at least trying an old fashioned 'Boot Camp' where maybe they are taken in small groups to a remote area and live in tents and basically have a similar training as say the armed forces undertake. The harshness will be there but if they are educated and given the opportunity to develop self assurance skills I think that would be better than a Youth Detention Centre where they will only be taught worse things than they ever knew before going in.

At the end of the day something has to be done surely.

Committed a knife crime? I'm talking about found carrying a knife.

I agree that if a person has commited a knife crime and is subsequently found carrying a knife then jail is the only way. If however they were in possession but not used the knife I find it harder to justify a custodial. Some gang leaders will just use kids to carry for them and avoid punishment even if they were the ones going to use the knife. It is not always so clear cut.

I'm with Jess and Gilly on this. No leeway. If you're carrying a knife you're in position to use it.

I'd tag and curfew for first offence and automatic prison for second.

I think any mandatory sentence is difficult. In many cities young kids are used by gangs to be carriers of weapons & drug's. I think all crimes need to be judged on circumstances.The problem is that prisons are bursting at the seams already. Either new ones need to be built or else fewer custodial sentences for non -violent crimes need to be given and alternative punishments devised.. There is a danger that young people may be criminalised if they genuinely thought carrying a knife would protect them. It won't but kids don't always have the understanding.

I agree with the Tories on this one JessM as surely if someone is carrying a knife then they are carrying it with a view to using it aren't they?