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No More Senseless Killings

 Over the past two days I have asked myself questions that I don't have the answer for.  Namely how many more young people have to die before we get to grips with the ‘knife culture' and how many more tears have to be shed?

Since 7th June 2008 at the Respect Conference led by Nims Obunge from the Peace Alliance, where young and old discussed what we, the people of Barking and Dagenham, thought about crime - especially the use of knives - two more young people have been needlessly murdered bringing this year's total to 17! 

In 2007, there were 27 teenagers stabbed to death in London alone!

The increase in fatal stabbings has raised public awareness of the UK's growing knife culture where it would seem that the total lack of respect for life now blights our city streets. Some people are calling for  Zero Tolerance: Zero Tolerance of knives in schools; Zero Tolerance of carrying knives on the street ; Zero Tolerance of the culture of violence and Zero Tolerance of sales of knives to the under 16 year olds - so if you sell a knife to a young adult under 16 you should face imprisonment.

Some people are calling for tougher penalties asking for a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for anyone found in possession of a knife

The ex-prime minister's wife, Cherie Blair, appearing as Ms Booth before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "As a parent I am concerned about what's happening when my children are on the street and I know I am not unique in that by any means" Being a parent myself I can understand her concern.  

But why do young people carry knives?
For the most part they say they carry knives for protection but we heard from Nims Obenge how misguided this was as the very knife they carried for self-protection was often turned against them!  Very few teenagers carry knives for status!

Emma Harrision, Chairman of A4e, who appeared on TV show The Secret Millionaire has co-founded Through UNITY, a charity which brings together 10 grassroots organisations working to reduce youth crime and gangs. Mrs Harrision who during her appearance on The Secret Millionaire last year gave £30,000 to Barking and Dagenham Crossroads will be donating £100,000 to the charity.

The recent march by the friends and relatives of Ben Kinsella was the second such march by young people this year.  On 7th June about 5,000 protesters marched from Trafalgar Square to Kennington Park in the south of the capital demonstrating on knife and gun crime.

Paying tribute to her brother the actress Brooke Kinsella said "Our hearts go out to every family who has also suffered this awful tragedy - and now it truly is the time to stand up and put an end to this.

Nims Obunge of Peace Alliance believes that we all have a part to play, "It takes a community to bring up a child".

Are you concerned about knife crime? What do you think we can do to cut knife crime?