We must learn from knife crime to end this menace

‘One simple step would be to equip officers with ph paper to test suspicious substances’

The shocking images of disfigured acid attack survivors are an increasingly common sight in the media and online, which plays a growing role in shaping the views and attitudes of young people.

With more than 450 recorded acid attacks in London alone last year – and five victims in just one night this week – the problem must be tackled.

Rightly, people will look to the police to deal with those carrying acid and alkali-based weapons. As with tackling knives and guns, police should be empowered to use stop and search effectively on those suspected of carrying such weapons. That said, “acid attack” substances are generally concealed in drinks bottles or other everyday items, making identification challenging.

So, one simple step, that could be adopted swiftly and at little cost, would be to equip officers with ph paper to test suspicious substances they come into contact with. It would at once send a strong signal that the risks of being caught are on the rise and that police take it seriously.

Existing legislation – specifically that which deals with offensive weapons and offences against the person – looks in likely need of an overhaul, as they require police to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, an intent to injure or wound. Fortunately, there are lessons to be learnt from knife crime.

Prior to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, police had to prove intent, often a challenging prospect for the prosecution. The 1988 legislation prioritised public safety, instead requiring defendants to show they had good reason or lawful authority for carrying certain types of knives.

A similar change in the law – making it an offence to carry a corrosive, acidic or alkaline substance in a public place without good reason or lawful authority, would – alongside properly equipped and trained officers – boost the risks of detection for those currently engaged in this dreadful crime.

The latest data showed 1 in 4 of London’s acid attacks over the last five years took place in Newham – that’s a high degree of concentration. If those carrying acid continue to go unchallenged then we can expect “acid attacks” to enter the broader repertoire of vile methods that gangs and other violent criminals across London and the UK use to intimidate and harm some of the poorest and most vulnerable in society: we must not allow that.