A Preston councillor has claimed that the public are being failed by the courts on the issue of knife crime.
Francesco De Molfetta, councillor for Preston Central North, said that the court system is far too lenient in sentencing those who commit acts of violence using knives.
“I feel the courts aren’t severe enough. There needs to be harsher penalties; stricter sentences and enforce the parents” he said.
“It’s not as high as London but it’s a real cause of concern. Despite the best efforts of the police it’s not lowering. People need to feel safe.”
Lancashire is the 10th place hot-spot in a table of knife crime figures from 2007/2008, with 361 incidents recorded; a figure less than the 515 incident average for the UK, and one which accounted for 18% of all violent crime in the county.
Below is a timeline of the main reported knife crimes within Lancashire since 2007.
Figures from the Lancashire Constabulary indicate that the peak age of people who possess a knife or carry out knife crime is 17 years old, while the peak age of victims of knife crime is 16 years old.
Assistant Chief Constable of Lancashire Police, Chris Weigh, said: “Lancashire is the 8th biggest force geographically in the country and therefore you would expect us to have a higher number of incidents than a smaller or more rural force.”
Mr De Molfetta went on to say that it was his belief that media coverage encourages knife crime in some instances, but that parents need to take more action.
“In minority cases parents are failing, despite all the support. There is instability in the family; a lack of guidance and routine.
“It’s good that there are more police on the streets. The police and the community need to work better together, but they are doing a good job. They need to be tackled at a younger age within the home and the school, to educate them.”
A statement from the Lancashire Constabulary Press Office said: “Lancashire Constabulary recognises that knife crime is a growing problem in society and proactively tackles the issue.
“Taking knives off the streets will not solve the problem in isolation. In order to reduce incidents involving knives we need to change attitudes. That will involve the whole community, including schools, parents and youths themselves in making knife carriage unacceptable.”
Official figures since Labour came to power in 1997 show that the number of people prosecuted for possessing knives has increased by 72%, to 7,699 in 2006.
The law states that possession of an offensive weapon in a public place is an arrestable offence, as is failing to submit to a search is an offence.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Digital Newsroom Article 1
The Government’s ‘Tackling Knives Action Programme’ has begun nationwide, with Lancashire one of the focus points.
The Government have begun a new £3 million campaign to crack down on knife crime. Over the past year there has been a spate of high profile deaths in relation to knife crime, especially around the capital.
Knife crime 07/08 accounted for 18% of all violent crime in Lancashire. The offences recorded by police have been broken down to show the extent of knife crime. Lancashire is the 10th place hot-spot in a table of knife crime figures from 2007/2008, with 361 incidents recorded; less than the 515 UK average.
Dominic Benson, from the Press Office at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said that between the start of November 2007 and the end of November 2008 there have been only three knife crime related injuries in Chorley but 26 in Preston.
The British Crime Survey showed statistics published by the police, based on recorded offences, showed crime down 9%. However, the BSC figures do not include under-16s; an age group which, according to the Lancashire Constabulary, can be attributed a large percentage of involvement in knife crime.
Lea Police have been visiting secondary schools in Ashton, Fulwood and Tulketh, to show pupils the types of scanners they use to find the knives in an attempt to educate and prevent future crimes.
In a press release from the Lancashire Constabulary Press Office it was said that the Lancashire Constabulary “recognises that knife crime is a growing problem in society” and “Officers regularly speak to young people to warn them of the dangers of knives and that police take action against those who carry them.”
The statement continues: “Taking knives off the streets will not solve the problem in isolation. That will involve the whole community, including schools, parents and youths themselves in making knife carriage unacceptable.
“In order to reduce incidents involving knives we need to change attitudes; education is about breaking the chain, targeting those most vulnerable to carrying knives; enforcement is about using proactive police powers and community intelligence to target areas where people are thought to routinely carry knives.”
People in Preston do believe there is a problem with knife crime, if not a major one, and it is because the youth don’t have enough activities to engage them.
The Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Hughes said at a conference in Stockwell that young people were carrying knives out of fear, a statement backed up by the police following stop and search procedures.
Undercover spot checks in the 10 national hotspots for knife crime, including Lancashire, have also shown that it is twice as easy to buy a knife underage than it is alcohol. 35 per cent of underage test purchasers were able to buy a knife while alcohol checks were just 15 per cent successful.
The map (below) shows a select few cases of knife crime in and around Preston, with the majority away from the centre of the city – away from the university – and towards fringe areas, such as Ribbleton and Walton-le-dale.
View Larger Map
The Government have begun a new £3 million campaign to crack down on knife crime. Over the past year there has been a spate of high profile deaths in relation to knife crime, especially around the capital.
Knife crime 07/08 accounted for 18% of all violent crime in Lancashire. The offences recorded by police have been broken down to show the extent of knife crime. Lancashire is the 10th place hot-spot in a table of knife crime figures from 2007/2008, with 361 incidents recorded; less than the 515 UK average.
Dominic Benson, from the Press Office at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said that between the start of November 2007 and the end of November 2008 there have been only three knife crime related injuries in Chorley but 26 in Preston.
The British Crime Survey showed statistics published by the police, based on recorded offences, showed crime down 9%. However, the BSC figures do not include under-16s; an age group which, according to the Lancashire Constabulary, can be attributed a large percentage of involvement in knife crime.
Lea Police have been visiting secondary schools in Ashton, Fulwood and Tulketh, to show pupils the types of scanners they use to find the knives in an attempt to educate and prevent future crimes.
In a press release from the Lancashire Constabulary Press Office it was said that the Lancashire Constabulary “recognises that knife crime is a growing problem in society” and “Officers regularly speak to young people to warn them of the dangers of knives and that police take action against those who carry them.”
The statement continues: “Taking knives off the streets will not solve the problem in isolation. That will involve the whole community, including schools, parents and youths themselves in making knife carriage unacceptable.
“In order to reduce incidents involving knives we need to change attitudes; education is about breaking the chain, targeting those most vulnerable to carrying knives; enforcement is about using proactive police powers and community intelligence to target areas where people are thought to routinely carry knives.”
People in Preston do believe there is a problem with knife crime, if not a major one, and it is because the youth don’t have enough activities to engage them.
The Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Hughes said at a conference in Stockwell that young people were carrying knives out of fear, a statement backed up by the police following stop and search procedures.
Undercover spot checks in the 10 national hotspots for knife crime, including Lancashire, have also shown that it is twice as easy to buy a knife underage than it is alcohol. 35 per cent of underage test purchasers were able to buy a knife while alcohol checks were just 15 per cent successful.
The map (below) shows a select few cases of knife crime in and around Preston, with the majority away from the centre of the city – away from the university – and towards fringe areas, such as Ribbleton and Walton-le-dale.
View Larger Map
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