We understand from media reports that knife crime in this country is again on the rise.The worrying figures published indicate that the number of knife offences went up again by an alrming rate. It went up from 26,000 in 2014/15 to 40,000 in 2017/18, Knife crime in the UK has overtaken the gun culture in America. Thank God the acid attacks which were more prevelant in previous years are in the wane after severe punishments were meted out to the culprits. Would similar harsh punishments for knife crime make any difference? Imagine yourself being confronted by man weilding a knife and threatening to harm you. It must be a very frightening experience. People who are victims would probably live the rest of their lives on a knife edge, being jittery and afraid to go out any time of day or night. It has been suggested by some that increased jail sentences for the culprits may be an answer. But others argue that prison sentences on their own are not effective.
The person will come out of jail more hardened criminal and would be carrying a chip on his shoulder. But then how could we put a stop to this sometimes indiscriminate harming of people who may have caused no offence or harm to the perpetrators? The culprits and their victims need more support from their peers. However, the poor victims of knife crime would probably live the rest of their life on a knife edge.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
