Cutting knife crime (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Cutting knife crime

YOUNG people in Swindon are being encouraged to tell police if they have information about people carrying knives.

A campaign being launched by Crimestoppers next week is aimed at raising awareness of knife crime by and against young people.

This comes at a time when the government is introducing its Violent Crime Bill, which would raise the minimum age for buying knives from 16 to 18.

Under the new legislation head teachers would also have the right to search students they suspect may be carrying knives or blades into school.

Between March 1 and August 30 this year knives have been either used or carried on over 100 occasions by offenders in Wiltshire.

The awareness campaign has been welcomed by police in Wiltshire but Phil Davenport, chairman of the county's police federation, hopes that research will continue into understanding why children are carrying knives at all.

He said: "We welcome the Crimestoppers campaign and welcome the government initiative to deal with violent crime, especially concerning knives.

"They can kill and do kill. The streets would be a safer place if people didn't carry them and this has got to benefit everybody."

"There is a strong belief that only young people carry knives, but I'm not always convinced that is the case.

"They can be carried or used by anybody male or female, young or old."

But he believes that enforcement is not the only action necessary.

He said: "I'm a great believer in not coming down on kids.

"If they're carrying knives we've got to find out the underlying reasons and deal with those."

A spokeswoman for Wiltshire police said: "In many areas knives have become an alternative to carrying a gun because knives are generally easier to acquire.

"Young people are generally reluctant to tell anyone if they are a victim of knife crime or if they know of anyone who carries a knife."

Det Sgt Mark Smith, of Wiltshire police, said: "This campaign is an excellent opportunity to work towards a significant reduction in the number of knives carried on the streets of Wiltshire and Swindon, thereby maintaining the county's reputation as one of the safest in England and Wales."

Young people can ring the Crimestoppers number 0800 555111 with information, which police stress can be given anonymously and safely without fear of reprisal.

Dave Andrew