Knife crime: Enough is enough says Charles

Royals host talks to end violence

PRINCE Charles has called on the nation to declare “enough is enough” and stop the knife crime epidemic causing “misery for families and communities”.

Charles, 70, who was at Clarence House with Prince Harry to chair a round-table discussion on knife crime, said: “This whole problem of youth crime, knife crime, violent crime, is becoming ever more prevalent.”

He said action was needed to “prevent all these appalling disasters happening to so many families” and called for teenagers to be given more help to make the “transition” from childhood to adulthood.

Charles said: “I remember, just, as an adolescent that you need something, some motivation, something to get your teeth into at that period between 14 and 19 where all the worst aspects of this knife crime seem to happen.”

ADVENTUROUS

He said that may be “exciting, adventurous, constructive, sometimes risky” opportunities.

The royals heard from people with personal or professional experience of youth violence, and were joined by Prince’s Trust ambassadors, including actor Tom Hardy, England manager Gareth Southgate and rapper Tinie Tempah.

Charles called for more vocational training for young people not suited to the “academic sausage machine”. He said: “A lot drop out and we end up often at the Prince’s Trust trying to help them.

“The tragedy is we have not recognised the need for vocational education to help provide what is needed for those people who don’t find a strictly academic course what they need.”

He said: “It can’t be beyond the power of man or woman to find a way through. I pray that as a result of all this, there may be a way of making a dent in this enormous problem.”