Knife epidemic is now a national emergency
BEAMING with pride on the steps of 10 Downing Street, girl scout Jodie Chesney was a bright, popular 17-year-old pupil.
Across the country, Yousef Makki, also 17, was an aspiring heart surgeon studying at a prestigious public school.
Both had their whole lives to look forward to. But both are now dead, victims of the horrific orgy of knife violence engulfing every corner of Wild West Britain.
Jodie was stabbed in an unprovoked attack while sitting with her boyfriend in a park in east London, Yousef butchered in a leafy, affluent Cheshire village.
An uncomprehending relative spoke for the nation when she said: ‘How have we come to this point?’ How indeed. One thing seems undeniable: a reprehensible failure by politicians and the police to grab the chilling epidemic by the scruff of the neck.
Youngsters, many in gangs, strut the streets with impunity, brandishing weapons more suited to war zones. The carnage wrought is unimaginable.
In five years, the number of children taken to hospital for stab wounds has doubled. Among under-18s, killings, sex attacks and robberies using knives have soared.
Depressingly, for some youngsters carrying a blade is as normal as having a cup of tea. And with fewer police on patrol, and a steep decline in stop-and-search, today’s violent thugs little fear being caught.
Chief constables are so preoccupied with trendy causes such as hate crime and historical sex offences they appear to have abandoned the challenge of reclaiming communities hit by the surge in stabbings.
And what of our politicians? Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who this week leads a ‘roundtable’ (whatever that is) on combating knife crime, has one eye on replacing embattled Theresa May as Tory leader.
Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan, like a broken record, drones on indignantly about government cuts – but accepts no responsibility for the bloodshed.
Truly, the time for talking and handwringing is over. The pointless blame game must end. This is nothing short of a national emergency.