More knife crime on the streets of London

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/2vg9dwf

They are now knife fighting in gangs, isn't it time that the Met. took their velvet gloves off and took draconian measures to stamp out this carnage on our streets, even if it means stepping on the toes of 'The Community'?

[sp1814]

Section 60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives police the right to search people in a defined area at a specific time when they believe, with good reason, that: there is the possibility of serious violence; or that a person is carrying a dangerous object or offensive weapon; or that an incident involving serious violence has taken place and a dangerous instrument or offensive weapon used in the incident is being carried in the locality. This law has to be authorised by a senior officer and is used mainly to tackle football hooliganism and gang fights.

from http://www.met.police...hat_is.htm#stopsearch

What draconian measures would you propose over and above what already exists?

I would support a new mandatory three year jail sentence (with a massive publicity campaign prior to introduction) for anyone caught carrying an offensive weapon - however, this would be like putting a icepack on the forehead of someone suffering from a migraine. It might relieve the pain, but the underlying symptoms would still exist.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

A good informative answer, but what underlying symptoms are you referring to?

/// What draconian measures would you propose over and above what already exists?///

Well it would be a start to implement the 'draconian' measures that already exist.

You know as well as I do the Police are fighting with one hand tied behind their back.

If they go in, they are immediately accused of racist, bully boy tactics.

If they do apprehend a person, who then consequently struggles to escape, and a number of officers have to get involved, they are then accused of inflicting injuries on the said individual.

No the Police know that their whole livelihood could be at risk, so consequently they tend to close a blind eye.

[berniecuddles]

bottoom line aog police dont giv a t0ss!!

[sp1814]

AOG

The underlying symptoms I refer to are the 'glamourisation' of gang culture.

Why do kids see being in a gang so attractive? Why are they carrying knives? Tackling the source is the real challenge...by the time they're facing a custodial sentence, they're already stuffed.

One idea I've put forward to the support group I'm involved in is to get kids who have already served time to go to schools (primary, rather than secondary) to explain how their lives have been messed up by getting involved in gangs.

Secondary school kids should be show (extremely) graphic videos of the results of knife and gun crime. These videos could be introduced by the mothers of victims.

One of the ways forward would be to make carrying a gun/knife as shameful as being caught with child pornography.

[Thomas]

They should send in the Wiltshire Police, all ex squadies spoiling for a fight.

They'd sort the women out first!

[anotheoldgit]

One measure the police could take was for them to target groups of youths hanging around together.

Don't tell me this would not work or it would be against their human rights.

This action was regularly carried out during the 50s to break up gangs of 'Teddy Boys', it was not only targeted against them either.

Ordinary youths could not congregate in Market Places say, or outside coffee bars, when the only 'crime' they allegedly committed was chatting amongst themselves.

[ummmm]

I suppose it depend where you live.

[LoftyLottie]

AOG. Groups of youths do hang around in groups together. They always have. You can't break up a group of people, youths or otherwise, just for hanging about together unless they are causing a nuisance. Youths are people too!! Too many people assume that youths in groups are going to cause trouble.

[Sqad]

Lofty...perhaps in the 50´s and 60´s I would agree with you, but today, I take the attitude that a group of youths are trouble until proved otherwise.

[sp1814]

Police ARE using stop and search on the streets. In fact, its increased by 70% in the past five years!

http://www.guardian.c...top-and-search-police

[Answerprancer]

I just did it again "let me guess - AOG" and just to remind you of my "astute"ness, that was deduced from an answer in the "latest posts" column without really looking to see who the original poster was .
You're becoming predictable AOG :-)

[boxtops]

You can still read the Riot Act, I believe, where more than 12 people are gathered together causing a disturbance.

[bentaxle]

Well I must admit I've carried an offensive weapon for 68 yrs ie a shut knife the last 30 its been a lock one you see the experts convinced me it was safer I must have worn out or lost half a dozen in those years

[Answerprancer]

Hey AOG - there's a chance for you to come out from behind your Daily Mail and do something proactive about this. Go over to Bulbultown's thread and give them the benefit of your ancient wisdom.