Teenager stabbed at school

A 14yr old has reportedly been stabbed in the leg with a penknife following an arguement about football.

http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/06/30/teenager-stabbed-at-school/

Moving the kids, but not solving the problem

An interesting development in education; in response to a £10m government initiative to expand state boarding school provision it has been reported that a primary school in Brixton is planning to open a boarding school for the pupils once they become teenagers.

In a bid to remove children from the dangers of growing up in Lambeth, some pupils will go to a Mon-Fri boarding school outside London. There are several unused boarding schools (which have gone bust) that the government are apparently looking into getting up and running again, but as state schools.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/29/lambeth-boarding-school-teenagers

The announcement follows the release of government stats last week reveleaing that 8.5% of 16-year-old boys had carried knives to protect themselves, with disproportionately high levels in the capital and other urban areas.

Children fighting against knife crime

CBBC's Newsround has covered a story about a group of schoolchildren who are so concerned about knife crime that they have canvassed Boris Johnson!

Moved by the story of Ben Kinsella's murder the children bagan a campaign to tell people about the dangers of knife crime; producing posters, writing songs, performing a play and working with a graffiti artist to make a banner. Their MP went to the school and was questionned by the children on the measures which the government is taking to stop knife crime.

The story was covered as part of Newsround's on-going Press Pack programme which encourages children to report on their own news stories. The fact that knife crime is a concern of children at primary school age is a sobering thought.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8110000/newsid_8116400/8116404.stm

Review of knife crime sentancing

Jack Straw has announced that sentancing for knife crimes is to be reviewed, following intense public scrutiny over the Ben Kinsella murder trial.

There's currently a 15yr minimum sentance for those who kill using a knife; considerably less than the sentance for those who kill with a gun.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/16/ben-kinsella-murder-jail-sentence

Boris pledge to tackle knife crime

Boris Johnson has pledged £2.3m to at least 150 agencies, in the fight to tackle knife crime.

http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?CID=&NID=1528&Title=Johnson+Outlines+More+Help+To+Tackle+Knife+Crime+

Teens carry to feel safe, reports Met Police

BBC radio's Newsbeat has conducted a poll, speaking to teens living in TKAP areas. The results show that as many as 1 in 10 young people living in areas with high crime rates are carrying weapons in order to feel safe.

Key findings:
25% know someone who has been a victim of knife crime
9% say they have to carry a weapon to feel safe
55% say they are worried about other teenagers carrying a knife
44% think the police are unable to protect them from violent crime
30% think longer sentences for people found carrying blades would reduce knife crime
49% say they would not report someone they know who carried a knife or gun
70% say it is easy or very easy to buy a knife

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_8119000/8119417.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8582071

Prince William meets with gangs to learn about street violence

Prince William has reportedly met with former street gang members, in an effort to understand more about Britain's street violence.

William commented, in his first ever newspaper report (for the Sunday Telegraph), "Britain's challenge is to turn gang members into team members".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/sundaytelegrapharmedforcesday/5586701/Prince-William-we-must-learn-lessons-from-violent-street-gangs.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/06/22/wills-held-meetings-with-gangs-115875-21461066/

Plea for tougher sentancing on knife crime

The family of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella have called for tougher sentancing on knife crime.

The 3 men found guilty of killing Ben were each sentanced to 19 years in prison, however had they used a gun their sentances would have started at 30 years. The intense press coverage of the case has served to further highlight the much harsher terms for those found guilty of gun crime.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5541984/Ben-Kinsellas-family-attack-complacent-knife-crime-sentencing-rules.html

Anti-stab knife to go on sale

A revolutionary new design of knife is about to go on sale in the UK.

Developed by the Home Office's Design and Technology Alliance, and industrial designer John Cornack, the knife features a double-pronged and rounded tip. The end of the knife is designed to minimise potential harm - it snags on material, making it more difficult to stab someone.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6501720.ece

Think-tank warns that stop and search is not enough to impact upon knife & gun crime rates

A report out by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies has cast a shadow upon recent government reports that rates of gun and knife crime are falling.

Key findings indicate that the problem is entrenched in society, and that a large scale, multi-layered approach is required.

The report is critical of 'stop and search' as a singular method of tackling the issue, it points to the need for agencies to work together to create a holistic campaign, to ensure long-term solutions.

http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/youngpeopleknivesandgunspr.html

Fall in knife crime figures!

Justice minister Maria Eagle has told the press that stop and search has resulted in a definite decrease in knife crime. The minister reported a 15% decrease in knife crime amongst 10-17 yr olds.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/06/12/success-in-knife-war-115875-21434164/

IDHTH film on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCaYUXzaUqg

Kinsellas call for tougher sentancing on knife crime

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8100060.stm

Ben Kinsella's father condemns knife culture

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5506266/Ben-Kinsella-murder-father-condemns-knife-crime-culture.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5493572/Ben-Kinsella-murder-how-a-misplaced-glance-led-to-innocent-teens-murder.html

3 sentanced for murder of Ben Kinsella

3 youths have been convicted of murder at The Old Bailey. Aged between 16 and 20, they all face life sentances for the brutal and unprovoked attack on 16yr old Ben Kinsella in Angel last year. Ben was stabbed 11 times in 5 seconds, while out celebrating the end of his GCSEs.

Ben's killers all had criminal records, and one was a known drug dealer. The crime has been highlighted in the press, perhaps because this was not a gang-on-gang killing but a brutal and senseless attack on an innocent person.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8096423.stm

Ben's father stated "Knife crime is now sadly embedded in the very heart of Great Britain. Parents live in fear until their children are safely home. It can be for a wrong word, a wrong look, or a wrong post code ..."

19yr old dies in stabbing

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/faversham

18yr old dies in knife attack

An 18year old man has been stabbed and killed in Middlesborough. The killing was witnessed by a 6yr old girl.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4409859.Murder_charge_as_teenager_stabbed/