We understand from media reports that knife crime in this country is on the increase again.The worrying figures published indicate that the number of knife offences went up by an alrming rate. Last year was London’s bloodiest when 135 people became victims of knife crime. Children as young as 5 years old carry knives to schools. They learn from their siblings and peer groups.
Thousands of weapons including samurai swords, axes and air guns have been seized from schools. The fear of being hurt may be one of the reasons why your child may be reluctant to go to school. Probably we, in AV, have been the first to throw light on this scourge for over a year on this very page. But then how could we stop this sometimes indiscriminate harming of people who may have caused no offence or harm to the perpetrators? The mayor of London has decided to get to grips with the soaring knife crime. He has put in place certain measures to combat this newly evolving scourge. There will be more police presence on the streets. Imagine yourself being confronted by man weilding a knife and threatening to harm you. People who are victims would probably live the rest of their lives on a knife edge. 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
