Tough measures

If WE really want to stamp out knife crime, the punishment must fit the crime. It should be a deterrent, not just a slap on the wrist.

To be caught carrying a knife or a gun should mean an automatic five years in jail without parole.

To draw a knife or gun with intent should result in a 12-year sentence. And if you kill someone, a life sentence should mean life behind bars.

D. W. G. HANNS, Fareham, Hants. IT IS not teachers, nurses or police who should be checking if children are involved in gangs or carrying weapons (Mail). Parents should know what their offspring are up to.

When my three children were teenagers, I always knew who they were with, where they were and what time they were expected home.

They respected the house rules and still managed to enjoy a happy, outdoor life riding horses, playing rugby and fishing.

M. STAFFORD, Bristol.