Knife crime is a serious problem—those who claim that the current concern over it is all a result of media fear-mongering are being far too flippant. But I do wish the government would concentrate on using the tools already available to it rather than coming up with yet more eye catching initiatives. As Stephen wrote the other week only a handful of those convicted of knife offences are punished to the full extent of the law. Today, Charlotte Leslie, a Tory candidate down in Bristol, notes in her Guardian blog another way in which the scourge of knife crime could be tackled without any additional legislation:
Before we enact any new legislation to tackle this problem, let’s enforce the existing laws and give the police the tools they need to deal with the problem. Less talk and more action is what is needed.“When we got back to the station, he showed me a perfectly normal looking pair of leather gloves. “See these?” he said. They had a thin lining on the inside. “These make a real difference. With these gloves, and this kevlar lining, I can grab the blade of a knife off someone and not be cut.” It turns out that they cost just £10 each, bought individually, not on bulk purchase, but stunningly this seems too expensive and only a few in the force have them.”
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