We understand from media reports that knife crime in this country is on the increase. Two young men were stabbed to death in London within the space of just over an hour last week. The worrying figures published indicate that the number of knife and gun crime offences went up by an alrming rate last year. There was a rise of 42% in gun crime and a rise of 24% in knife crime.
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? What needs to change is the person or the environment they are brought up in. The culprits and their victims need more support from their peers. However, the poor victims of a knife crime would probably live the rest of their life on a knife edge.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
