Knife Crime in the United Kingdom - Article Example

Knife crime in the United Kingdom Introduction Knife is a tool which consists of a very sharp edged blade which is specially used for the purpose of cutting. In the modern world knife has been given immense importance due to the nature in which it works. This tool is now increasingly being used as a weapon throughout the world. It has gained the significance of a deadly tool being used by criminals through out the world. And different legislations are being passed all over the world to decrease the use of a knife as a weapon. In doing so the UK has passed similar legislations which are aimed to decrease its use a weapon. The knife crimes happening through out UK has increased to alarming levels and a research done by British Crime Survey clearly illustrated that the number of knife crimes happening in the UK has reached the level of 130000 offences annually. Similarly to curb out these crimes different techniques are being applied by the government of Britain. This article would further revolve around the topic of knife crimes in the UK and would evolve with a detailed conclusion as to how much alarming the situation is and what is being done by the government accordingly. Laws for Knife Crimes Different laws have been passed out by the UK legislation through out the 19th century to limit the use of knives. These laws have a basic aim of reducing the knife crimes happening through UK. They prohibit the sale, carrying, use and also production of these tools. The Prevention of Crime Act in 1953 clearly illustrates that any object which may cause harm to any individual if used is an offensive weapon. Similarly keeping this Act in mind new acts have been placed by the government which declares knife as an offensive weapon and its use on any individual should be widely prohibited. The current act of Violent Crime Reduction 2006 clearly states that knives should not be carried in public places or schools without any genuine excuse. However folding knives which have a blade of less than three inches are still allowed to be carried in the UK. Knives which are banned in UK include gravity, flick and samurai swords. The new act of 2006 has increased the sentence from two years, for carrying a knife in a public place, to a maximum of 4 years. The laws for the carrying and using of knives are eligible on the teenagers also. As recently a teenager was sentenced to life imprisonment was stabbing another teenager with a knife. Furthermore the buying of knives is prohibited to teenagers who are younger than 18 through this new act. The teachers and police have been granted the power to check any individual for the possession of knives. Cases of Knife Crimes There are many horrible and terrifying cases which are enough to threaten the whole society. In UK, knife crimes are increasing day by day. It is easier to carry a knife as people think it is not as harmful as a gun. However, the mentioned cases would provide clear evidence that holding a knife is equally harmful and dangerous as holding a gun or other weapon. These weapons should not be used to harm people but for the defense f the country. Those who were expected to hold books and pens and concentrate on their studies for the bright future of their country are instead holding weapons and destroying the image of UK. A 16 year old teenager murdered Martin Dinnegan in June 2007. Such a violent behavior from the youth is tragic and shows that the country is moving towards horrible future. The incident happened as a result of 'dirty looks' passed on by two groups on each other in Holloway. On such a minor issue Martin Dinnegan lost his life in the age of 14. As Dinnegan realized the intentions of Chin, he started to run away from them and screamed for help. Regardless of his continuous cry Chin stabbed him to death. The case of Martin Dinnegan was observed by the judge Brian Barker. According to him, the attack was planned and intentional as a revenge of rivalry. The attack showed an inhuman behavior and the selfish and severe attitude of a person having no feelings about other person's pain and family. The judge declared it as a tragedy which caused Dinnegan, lose his life leaving behind an everlasting pain and hatred for his family against the youth and unsafe environment of the country. Hence, Chin was sentenced for a minimum of 12 years of prison. This act happened in June 2007 but Joseph Chin was sentenced to life imprisonment on 8th August 2008. Ben Kinsella, aged 16, was attacked during a row with a group of youths in York Way, in Holloway. Ben is supposedly the 17th victim of knife crimes in the year 2008. Case details revealed that during a party Ben was attacked by several youths. He was extremely wounded and red marks were witnessed over his stomach. He was taken to the hospital but could not survive more than a few hours. Police arrested 2 suspects who could have murdered him and an investigation follows. Another case reveals the murder setting of David Idown. On 19th June 2008 near Becket Street, David was stabbed and hospitalized. He had severe wounds on his chest and stomach. After fighting with his death for three weeks, he finally gave up his life. David was the 19th victim of this kind of violent behavior this year. A 16 year old youth was suspected for the murder. After being identified as a murderer at Camberwell Youth Court, he was punished for the attempted murder. Children who committed knife crime belong to different categories. In the first case in which Dinnegan was murdered it is believed that Joseph Chin was suffering from mental trauma. However after reviewing all the cases mentioned above it can be governed that these knife crimes usually occur due to the aggressive nature one has. This aggressive nature leads to a fight and furthermore leads to retaliation. This retaliation leads to the use of the tool. Children usually commit these kinds of crimes because of mental trauma and their aggressive nature. In order to make them avoid doing these crimes one has to give them proper counseling so as to they can control their anger. A small fight can lead to larger result and thus a proper system should be made so that these small fights are avoided amongst the children. Children should be provided with counseling in both schools and homes so that they can avoid a fight. Moreover, as the children who used to carry knives were previously forgiven it tempted them to do these crimes more. A continuous increase in stabbings and youth crimes has worried the Police and politicians. A separate unit to monitor knife crimes is set up by the metropolitan police. Strict rules are explained against holding a knife. David Cameron as a conservative leader ordered to captivate every individual carrying knife without any good reason. Moreover, Prime Minister Gordon Brown explicated to take a strict and serious step against a person over 16 years of age rather than letting him go with a warning. Family Scare and Actions The cases have risen to such a level that all the parents in the UK are conscious about sending their children to schools. Different programs are being launched by them to urge the government to work towards the decrease of this crime. A march was taken out by the family members and the friends of the family of a victim on 22 July 2008 to urge the government to curb out knife crimes in the UK. The families who have gone through these disasters suffer to date. These families further carry an awareness program to tell other families about the dangers of knife crimes to their children. The families in UK want a proper system of policing for knife crimes as they get afraid of the situation currently prevailing in the UK. Furthermore these families take precautions to keep their children away from these acts. According to the researchers parents play a vital role in determining the use of knives by their children. Parents tend to be a factor of great influence for the children and thus it is their duty to keep their children away from such activities. Parents in the UK have started taking parenting lessons on how to teach their children about the avoidance of knife crimes. Similarly parents in UK are also counseling their children about the effects of these crimes and are urging them to keep away from it. Retaliation is seen as a great factor for the occurrence of these crimes and thus families play a major role in avoiding this retaliation. The parents of the child who is beaten up are usually contacted to provide their child with counseling on retaliation. This greatly helps to curb out the crime. Actions taken by the government, law enforcement, and community Furthermore the government has introduced new reforms which have made the law personnel more responsible for the brutal knife crimes. They have also given the law enforcement agencies extra power to curb the crimes. The officials have been given the power to stop and search every individual in the UK. Any individual that they think is suspicious may be checked by them thoroughly for possessing any offensive weapon. Schools and other institutions are urged to have metal detectors so that any individual who possesses knives may be detected. Many schools have worked on this option and it has proved to be successful for many. The laws enforcement agencies have adopted a strict approach towards the children who bare knives and are taking actions against them. However even now cases can be found in which these agencies have left the children after cautioning them. The community on an overall has raised several programs which aware people of the consequences if a knife crime is done. These programs also address the government to work in a pattern which would help to curb the knife crime. A program launched by the parents of Luke Walmsley is largely supported to curb out the knife crimes in UK. This program by them urges the government to raise the sentence for carrying a knife to 5 years. This shows that the community is also playing an important role to address the crimes committed by knives. Conclusion The cases of knife crimes mentioned above clearly show that knife crimes in the UK are increasing to alarming rates and should be controlled by the government of UK. Such crimes are not merely harming the social environment but are also creating risks for the religious and ethical values of people. These crimes should be controlled by the government before more horrible situations occur. The fear of being victimized by these crimes forces people to keep weapons with them. This situation is not helping but worsening the condition as it has become more difficult to capture the murderers. In order to resolve this issue, rather than simply informing youth about the severity of penalties on holding a knife, there is a need to provide them a substitute to be used when experiencing such situations. These substitutes may include less dangerous forms of self defense including pepper spray, Mace etc. This stuff may also be deadly if used excessively but it still seems to be safer than knifes and guns. There is a need to clearly declare laws against holding a knife and these laws must be implemented accordingly. To stop youth from using knife as a dreadful weapon government should introduce awareness programs for the clearer image of the horrors of knife crime. Parents are required to keep their children from any such activity for the sake of their children's life as well as of others. The government is still lacking a way to properly curb out the crime. The agencies should have a more strict approach towards the knife crimes and should not leave any child doing any such offense. The law should also be made stricter and the penalties for committing a crime should be raised. Furthermore education is a vital criterion to curb out knife crimes and thus it should also be addressed through out the UK. Bibliography SCOTLAND. (2005). Tackling knife crime: a consultation. Edinburgh, Scottish Executive. BONDY, J., OGILVIE, A., & ASTBURY, B. (2005). Living on edge: understanding the social context of knife carriage among young people. Melbourne, RMIT University Press. LOGAN, G. B. H. (1930). Rope, knife and chair. Studies of English, French and American crimes. Illustrated. NICHOLAS, S., KERSHAW, C., & WALKER, A. (2007). Crime in England and Wales 2006/07. Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 11/07. London, Home Office. MORGAN, R., HOLLINS, S., & KAHR, B. (2006). Young people and crime: improving provision for children who offend. Donald Winnicott memorial lecture. London, Karnac on behalf of the Winnicott Clinic of Psychotherapy. WILSON, D., SHARP, C., & PATTERSON, A. (2006). Young people and crime: findings from the 2005 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey. Home Office statistical bulletin, 17/06. London, Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate. O MAHONY, D. (2000). Young People, Crime, and Criminal Justice: Patterns and Prospects for the Future. YOUTH AND SOCIETY. 32, 60-80. Youth sentenced to life for knife murder of schoolboy Youth dies week after stabbing BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7493410.stm Facts - Knife Crime http://www.insight-security.com/facts-knife-crime-stats.htm 16-year-old sentenced to life for stabbing schoolboy to death in 'revenge attack' < http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/aug/09/knifecrime.crime> Punishment won't get rid of knife crime< http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/23/youthjustice.knifecrime> Gemma Newman's family: Knife crime education needed KNIFE LAW BRITAIN Knife Crime Read More