From the September 2017 print issue of Professional Security magazine, the trainer Steve Collins of PS5.
For more than a decade I have been arguing that the UK is in the grip of a knife crime epidemic. I have written books and editorial features. I have given talks and delivered training on the dangers of knives and edged weapons. In fact in the May issue of Professional Security I have an article called ‘Ravaging realities of knives’, where I state: “If you carry a knife you are a potential murderer.” Knife crime in the UK is now four times more prevalent than gun crime, and even though the public’s perception is that knife crime is out of control, successive Governments and the police have for years denied there is a major knife problem. Indeed the massaged statistics that we have been exposed to have continually assured us that knife crime has fallen. We are also told that the UK does not have a knife culture, which of course is erroneous; because there has been a knife culture throughout.
A little history lesson
The first Metropolitan Police constables marched onto the streets of London in 1829 with little more than a blue tailed coat, a top hat with a thick leather crown, a broad leather stock to protect them from being strangled, a rattle to summon help and a short wooden truncheon. Those who supported this new police force gave them the nicknames of ‘Peeler’or ‘Bobby’ after their founder Robert Peel. However, life was tough and bobbies were forced to fight fire with fire, to overcome hostility shown towards them. They were attacked, not just by criminals; it was common for the Army to encourage soldiers to attack them. Firemen would assault them if they attempted to help put out a fire and bobbies on traffic duties were horse-whipped and even run down by irate coachmen. Their understandable response earned them a less flattering nickname, ‘Peel’s bloody gang’! Our 19th century bobby knew the streets only too well. Everyone was carrying a weapon.
Body armour
The problem is still with us and in our age of political correctness and litigation, policing Britain’s streets has probably never been more difficult for operational police. If this were not true and we didn’t have a knife problem they wouldn’t need to wear ‘stab resistant body armour’; and don’t be fooled into thinking they carry their batons, incapacitant sprays, Tasers and firearms to protect the public. People have carried knives in Britain for thousands of years for perfectly legitimate and lawful reasons and they are not going to stop now. However, the problem is that more and more people are carrying knives for illegal purposes, and sadly those that do it are getting younger. Many of today’s youth show an utter disrespect for any kind of authority and all too often are seen to be brandishing knives to anyone who dares challenge their behaviour.
The truth
A Met Police report indicated that between 2014 and 2016 the number of children carrying knives in London schools rose by almost 50pc, while the number of knife offences in London schools rose by 26pc, and remember this is just London and just kids. In 2015-16, there were 28,859 (selected) offences involving a sharp instrument, in England and Wales. This was 9pc higher compared to 2014-15 but 12pc lower than in 2010-11.
Homicide
There were 213 homicides using a sharp instrument in 2015-16, accounting for 37pc of all homicides. This was an increase from 186 cases in 2014-15 (36pc of all homicides). By police force area, London recorded the highest rate of 114 offences involving a knife per 100,000 population in 2015-16. This was a decrease of 41 offences from 156 per 100,000 people in 2010-11. Surrey had the lowest rate of six offences per 100,000. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) in 2015-16 a knife was used in 6pc of all CSEW incidents of violence experienced by adults, similar to the previous year’s proportion. CSEW data indicates that 5.8pc of 10-15 year olds and 4.5pc of 16-29s knew someone who carried a knife for their own protection. In 2016 there were 18,322 proven offences for possession of a knife or offensive weapon. Average custodial sentence length (ACSL) for offences involving knives has increased since 1996. In 2016 the ACSL exceeded 6.5 months for the first time.
Hospital admissions
NHS data for 2015-16 show the highest annual increase of 12pc in sharp object related finished hospital admission episodes since 1998-99. None of the above takes into consideration incidents that never get reported.
What’s being done?
We keep having knife amnesties where we are told that thousands of knives have been handed in and our streets are safer. But who surrenders them? Law abiding citizens. The fight against knife crime is not working and has never worked. However, as with any problem you first have to admit it exists.
