Today's most viewed
| JOIN THE DEBATE |  | | | | | | | NEWS | | | | | | | | | SOUTHEND UNITED | | | | | | ECHO WOMAN | | | | | | | | | | HEALTH | |
|
|
|
Victims to confront knife teenagers
GORDON Brown will defend the Government's shock tactics for tackling knife crime today amid growing public alarm over the recent spate of fatal stabbings.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday rushed out plans to bring youngsters caught with knives face to face with the victims of stabbings in hospital in an attempt to deter them from carrying weapons.
Mrs Smith said that she believed that confronting offenders with the consequences of their actions was more effective than jailing anyone convicted of possessing a knife.
But the plan drew a scathing response from the opposition parties who said that it was unproven and may actually be counter-productive.
The issue is expected to dominate the Prime Minister's latest Downing Street news conference this morning.
Mrs Smith's measures include visits by offenders to A&E wards where people are being treated for knife wounds, meetings with the families of stabbing victims and prison visits to offenders jailed for knife offences.
However the Home Secretary rejected Tory demands that anyone caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison.
"I am very keen that we make people face up to the consequences. In my book it is tougher than simply saying there is one, simple solution and that is everyone goes to prison," she said.
However shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said that "ill-thought-through, piecemeal announcements and failed initiatives" were nowhere near enough to deal with the problem.
What's your view? How should the Government tackle knife crime? Click on comment now to have your say
8:10am Monday 14th July 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Andrew, Shoeburyness on 12:04pm Sun 13 Jul 08
[bold]Yet another soft option from the useless Gordon McStalin and Nu-Liebour.
Punishment and fear of the law is what is needed. Laws like this:
Possession of knife in public = Automatic 2 months inside, £5,000 fine for offender and their parents and photographs published in newspapers as a 'name and shame'..
Using knife to harm = 10 years inside.
Killing with knife = Life without parole.[/bold]
Yet another soft option from the useless Gordon McStalin and Nu-Liebour.
Punishment and fear of the law is what is needed. Laws like this:
Possession of knife in public = Automatic 2 months inside, £5,000 fine for offender and their parents and photographs published in newspapers as a 'name and shame'..
Using knife to harm = 10 years inside.
Killing with knife = Life without parole. Posted by: JJ on 1:49pm Sun 13 Jul 08
1. Why would victims want to meet criminals of this type?
2. A&E wards are busy enough as it it is.
3. Law breakers , because that is what they are, not some misguided youth caught scrumping apples, carry a knife because they have no fear or regard for the law.
1. Why would victims want to meet criminals of this type?
2. A&E wards are busy enough as it it is.
3. Law breakers , because that is what they are, not some misguided youth caught scrumping apples, carry a knife because they have no fear or regard for the law.
Posted by: Mark, Southend on 2:02pm Sun 13 Jul 08
Thishas already failed in America and is a waste of time and money. The ONLY thing that will scare these thugs is a long prison sentence - end of. Labour - you're a pathetic joke for a government and will be voted out at the earliest opportunity. The people owe it to the victims of crime now to get rid of these Nu Labour cowards.
Thishas already failed in America and is a waste of time and money. The ONLY thing that will scare these thugs is a long prison sentence - end of. Labour - you're a pathetic joke for a government and will be voted out at the earliest opportunity. The people owe it to the victims of crime now to get rid of these Nu Labour cowards.
Posted by: Trainman on 2:11pm Sun 13 Jul 08
[bold]Brown, his Cronies, plus the opposition can talk all they like, but ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
LIFE-LONG prison terms are what are needed and NO luxuries given. Make life as HARD for them as they tried to be when using a blade.[/bold]
Brown, his Cronies, plus the opposition can talk all they like, but ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
LIFE-LONG prison terms are what are needed and NO luxuries given. Make life as HARD for them as they tried to be when using a blade. Posted by: guy, Leigh-On-Sea on 2:42pm Sun 13 Jul 08
Surely knife crime should carry the same sentence as gun crime.
Surely knife crime should carry the same sentence as gun crime.
Posted by: mario, basildon on 8:57pm Sun 13 Jul 08
waste of time they wont give a monkeys. Start punishing knife carriers with proper prison sentences, lets see some justice for a change.
waste of time they wont give a monkeys. Start punishing knife carriers with proper prison sentences, lets see some justice for a change.
Posted by: karateman1964, Poole Dorset on 10:26pm Sun 13 Jul 08
throw em to the lions ....they are a waste of resources
throw em to the lions ....they are a waste of resources
Posted by: zero tolerance, Basildon on 8:22am Mon 14 Jul 08
Put them to work building and repairing roads under very close critical supervision 24/7, then when their fitness levels have built up send them over to Iraq/Afghanistan and do the jobs of real men and women.
As for the parents of these thugs, they should be ashamed to be associated with them and they too should be made known to the public for their inadequacies of child rearing.
Maybe employers would think twice about employing them?
Put them to work building and repairing roads under very close critical supervision 24/7, then when their fitness levels have built up send them over to Iraq/Afghanistan and do the jobs of real men and women.
As for the parents of these thugs, they should be ashamed to be associated with them and they too should be made known to the public for their inadequacies of child rearing.
Maybe employers would think twice about employing them?
Posted by: john, basildon on 8:44am Mon 14 Jul 08
If caught with a knive, military conscription for 2 years minimum
If caught for murder, execution within 6 mnths
If caught with a knive, military conscription for 2 years minimum
If caught for murder, execution within 6 mnths
Posted by: Steve Trotter, Essex on 9:05am Mon 14 Jul 08
".... military conscription for 2 years minimum"
Forget that. Todays soldiers are nothing like the cannon fodder turned out during the 50's. Most are highly intelligent. How else can they handle todays sophisticated weapons and equipment.
Prison is the only way to tackle this.
6 months in solitary so they can't pick up tips from the "University of Crime" they tell us about.
Prison - and a long way from home.
".... military conscription for 2 years minimum"
Forget that. Todays soldiers are nothing like the cannon fodder turned out during the 50's. Most are highly intelligent. How else can they handle todays sophisticated weapons and equipment.
Prison is the only way to tackle this.
6 months in solitary so they can't pick up tips from the "University of Crime" they tell us about.
Prison - and a long way from home.
Posted by: Vee, Laindon on 9:18am Mon 14 Jul 08
PROTECTION of the public NOW please. We know what the solution is to protect the public so lets get that sorted now, and then the dozy politicians can talk till the cows come home about rehabilitating the thugs. Just dont let it be at the cost of our lives thanks.
PROTECTION of the public NOW please. We know what the solution is to protect the public so lets get that sorted now, and then the dozy politicians can talk till the cows come home about rehabilitating the thugs. Just dont let it be at the cost of our lives thanks.
Posted by: Mr Brown is pants, The Shoe on 10:00am Mon 14 Jul 08
If you were in hospital having just been stabbed then surely a knife wielding thug would be the last person you would want to see.
Think about the victims.
What next, pedophiles being invited into schools to talk with the children?
Who came up with this bonkers idea?
If you were in hospital having just been stabbed then surely a knife wielding thug would be the last person you would want to see.
Think about the victims.
What next, pedophiles being invited into schools to talk with the children?
Who came up with this bonkers idea?
Posted by: Dave Peters, Leigh on 11:17am Mon 14 Jul 08
Another half baked politician probably with the help of a social scientist.
Really, they have not got a clue what goes on in the real world
It'd be laughable if it wasn't so tragic
A word of advice to all you lilly livered left wing liberalist: don't try to understand or think like someone who thinks nothing of stabbing a fellow human being. They're a different breed.
You come out of Uni from a middle class background with a good degree and think all the books you've read can give you an insight into how a criminal thinks and also gives you the ability to know how to deal with them. Well forget the books and look around you.....
Do you still think the softly softly approach works?
Another half baked politician probably with the help of a social scientist.
Really, they have not got a clue what goes on in the real world
It'd be laughable if it wasn't so tragic
A word of advice to all you lilly livered left wing liberalist: don't try to understand or think like someone who thinks nothing of stabbing a fellow human being. They're a different breed.
You come out of Uni from a middle class background with a good degree and think all the books you've read can give you an insight into how a criminal thinks and also gives you the ability to know how to deal with them. Well forget the books and look around you.....
Do you still think the softly softly approach works?
Posted by: Steve, Leigh on 12:22pm Mon 14 Jul 08
Instant jail sentences of a minimum of 5 years for possession. Life with no parole for murder etc. Whilst in prison make them work chain-gang style and remove all the mod cons and comforts they currently enjoy at our expense. Make prisons places to be feared and places that no sane individual would want to be put in.
Instant jail sentences of a minimum of 5 years for possession. Life with no parole for murder etc. Whilst in prison make them work chain-gang style and remove all the mod cons and comforts they currently enjoy at our expense. Make prisons places to be feared and places that no sane individual would want to be put in.
Posted by: Brad, Leigh-On-Sea on 1:42pm Mon 14 Jul 08
This is not a deterrant. To enable one of these to visit a victim, they must first be stabbed! Its a backwards way of doing things. Do Goverment want the kids to kill themselves, is that what it is???
Carry a knife = have a finger cut off with that knife. That will stop it all. Simple.
This is not a deterrant. To enable one of these to visit a victim, they must first be stabbed! Its a backwards way of doing things. Do Goverment want the kids to kill themselves, is that what it is???
Carry a knife = have a finger cut off with that knife. That will stop it all. Simple.
Posted by: Claire Morris, Essex on 2:12pm Mon 14 Jul 08
"Carry a knife = have a finger cut off with that knife. That will stop it all. Simple."
Another Sun reader/Talk Blox radio listener treating us to his infinite wisdom. Next step for him is to get us all goose steppin' down Whitehall
Do you really advocate this?...really?
Unbelievable
"Carry a knife = have a finger cut off with that knife. That will stop it all. Simple."
Another Sun reader/Talk Blox radio listener treating us to his infinite wisdom. Next step for him is to get us all goose steppin' down Whitehall
Do you really advocate this?...really?
Unbelievable
Posted by: The Vicar, Basildon on 3:30pm Mon 14 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Claire Morris[/bold] wrote:
"Carry a knife = have a finger cut off with that knife. That will stop it all. Simple." Another Sun reader/Talk Blox radio listener treating us to his infinite wisdom. Next step for him is to get us all goose steppin' down Whitehall Do you really advocate this?...really? Unbelievable[/quote] My God - I do believe it's a lesser-spotted Labour supporter.
I'd best take a picture before they become extinct! :p
Claire Morris wrote:
"Carry a knife = have a finger cut off with that knife. That will stop it all. Simple." Another Sun reader/Talk Blox radio listener treating us to his infinite wisdom. Next step for him is to get us all goose steppin' down Whitehall Do you really advocate this?...really? Unbelievable
My God - I do believe it's a lesser-spotted Labour supporter.
I'd best take a picture before they become extinct! :p
Posted by: rae, SoS on 4:55pm Mon 14 Jul 08
If I were ever a unfortunate victim of knife crime I would not want to meet the attacker for fear of what I would do to them, more so if someone I loved lost a life because of them.
This is an insulting so called solution, it won't work.
If I were ever a unfortunate victim of knife crime I would not want to meet the attacker for fear of what I would do to them, more so if someone I loved lost a life because of them.
This is an insulting so called solution, it won't work.
Posted by: Brad, Leigh-On-Sea on 1:06pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Claire Morris, im sorry you feel this way but maybe it is time for the 'old fashioned' approach - nothing else seems to work!
...and no i do not waste my team reading The Sun, its got too many day dreamers like you in it!!
Cheers Vicar!
Claire Morris, im sorry you feel this way but maybe it is time for the 'old fashioned' approach - nothing else seems to work!
...and no i do not waste my team reading The Sun, its got too many day dreamers like you in it!!
Cheers Vicar!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
