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Call for crackdown on children with weapons
Brown says there should be a presumption to prosecute those aged 16 and 17 caught with a knife.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:11 June 6, 2008
London: Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to get tough on knife crime on Thursday, telling prosecutors they should take action against younger people found carrying weapons.
At a meeting with police and the director of public prosecutions, Brown said there should be a presumption to prosecute those aged 16 and 17 caught with a knife rather than let them off with a caution.
"What we've got to do is if a young person is carrying a knife there is a presumption that they will end in court, there is a presumption that they will be prosecuted," Brown said.
"Even for children under 16 carrying knives we will take the toughest of actions. We want people to understand, particularly parents, that when children and young people are carrying knives they are putting other children and young people at risk."
The proposals come after demands for the government to take action following a spate of stabbings. On Monday, a 15-year-old girl became the 16th victim to die in a violent attack in London this year. While official figures show that the number of knife attacks and violent incidents is falling, Ken Jones, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said there was a "worrying trend" of teenagers using weapons.
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