Jail knife attackers

IT IS correct to say the incarceration of knife crime offenders and those caught in possession of a blade would drastically reduce the number of killings on our streets (Letters).

But it is wrong to believe politicians don’t realise this. The real reason for the failure to start mandatory prison sentences for knife crime is the high cost involved.

The state has failed to fulfil its responsibility to protect its citizens. This issue should be paramount in the minds of voters at the next General Election. The introduction of punitive prison sentences for acid attacks has had the effect of deterring this horrific crime. The same policy for knife crime would not eliminate the problem, but exemplary prison sentences would dramatically reduce the number of offences.

By all means introduce whatever social measures are deemed necessary to help combat this problem.

In the meantime, the Government should tackle the immediate problem of individuals being butchered on our streets by locking up the offenders for a long time.

PETER HENRICK, Birmingham.