'Knife crime is a national crisis that needs a national response' - Express & Star Comment

The horrific death of Harvey Willgoose, a 15-year-old pupil stabbed to death at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield will have shocked us all.

But sadly, we shouldn't be surprised.

People living in the West Midlands will know all about the curse of knives, particularly among young people. 

We have, very recently, seen the death of 12-year-old Leo Ross in Birmingham. His alleged killer is 14. 

Two teenagers were jailed last week for the killing of 17-year-old Harleigh Hepworth in Wolverhampton's West Park. And two boys, one of them 14, are due to be sentenced soon for the death of 15-year-old Isaac Brown in West Bromwich.

Now, in the past two days, we have seen two schools in the West Midlands locked down in apparent security alerts linked to threats of violence. One of those lockdowns, by sad coincidence, came at the same time as the tragedy was unfolding in Sheffield.

The Express & Star has campaigned for tough laws to restrict the sale of knives, particularly the swords and ninja blades that many teenagers favour.

But, as we have stated before, new laws alone will not solves this problem.



This is a societal issue. Large numbers of teenagers now feel they must arm themselves with a blade as a routine, often from some misguided notion that it acts as some form of protection. It means confrontations that a few years ago would have meant an exchange of punches now end up with knives being drawn.

Something must be done. Sir Keir Starmer's words of regret aren't enough. He needs to put in place steps that will educate and protect children. Youth clubs shut in recent years should reopen, community police should once again have a base in secondary schools. Hard money should be spent on this national crisis.

As former children's commissioner for England Baroness Anne Longfield said today, this is a "national crisis that needs a national response".