Prison’s the only way to stop the scourge of knife crime
theRe is one problem that dominates modern society, yet remains completely out of control, and that is knife crime. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he will provide schools with metal detectors to identify those carrying knives. this is approaching the problem from the wrong direction — he should be trying to stop knives being carried at all times. Within certain age groups, it has become commonplace to carry a knife, Some claim it is for protection, others just want to ‘big themselves up’, and some, sadly, want to hurt people. It’s a development that no government seems to want to face up to. however, if the police are to achieve positive results, they need the courts behind them wielding the big stick with the blessing of the public. In Romford, two young men have been stabbed in the past few months, one fatally. this madness has to stop. If we are going to win, then people who are prepared to arm themselves should be made aware that society’s response will be swift, harsh and painful. a sustained campaign should warn against carrying a knife, and explain in no uncertain terms the consequences of doing so. the ads should state that in a stated number of weeks or months, any person caught carrying a knife — who clearly doesn’t need it for their profession — will go to prison for five years, without remission for good behaviour. once society starts imprisoning all knife carriers, it will send a message to those who arm themselves or who contemplate doing so. Provided the police stay vigilant and make their presence felt at the right times and step up random stop and searches outside pubs and clubs and on the streets, who would gamble with their freedom? We are a modern civilised country, yet we can’t stop people carrying knives. Something is fundamentally wrong — we have to toughen up.
LEE pAttLE, Basildon, Essex.