Knife Crime

HC 112-I, Seventh Report of Session 2008-09 - Volume I: Report, Together with Formal Minutes

Author:: House of Commons - Home Affairs Committee
Publisher:: TSO (The Stationery Office)

Knife Crime (HC 112-I)

Between 2005/06 and 2006/07, the number of knife homicides increased by over a quarter. There also appeared to be a rise in other serious knife violence during this year. A 48% increase in stab-related hospital admissions between 1997/98 and 2006/07 may indicate that knives are being used to inflict more serious wounds.

The majority of knife victims and perpetrators are young men in their late teens and early twenties. The high levels of knife violence since 2006 appear to be the result of an increase in street violence between groups of young people who are sometimes referred to as 'gangs'. Knife violence is concentrated in the deprived parts of big cities. Most young people who carry knives say they do so for 'protection', but status and peer pressure are also factors.

The Committee is convinced of the need to target knife-carriers and violent offenders separately. For the former, it advocates education in schools about the realities of knife-carrying and measures to help young people feel safer, such as improving confidence in the police and better victim support.

It supports the use of stop and search, providing it is carried out in an appropriate manner.

The use of custody as an appropriate sentence for the majority of knife-carriers and for violent offenders is offset by high re-offending rates that highlight its ineffectiveness as a long-term solution to violent crime.

The report advocates the adoption of a long-term violence reduction strategy that focuses on prevention. Specific recommendations include early intervention with babies and toddlers born into dysfunctional families, and a more strategic approach to providing diversionary activities and support for excluded young people.

The accompanying 'Knife Crime - Volume II: Oral and Written Evidence (HC 112-I)' (ISBN 9780215530585) is available to buy separately, please see below.

Extent	113 pages	ISBN	9780215530578
Size	A4	Price	£15.50
Binding	Paperback	Published	02 Jun 2009
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges