Express & Star comment: Action on knives has to happen
Figures showing the true extent of knife crime across the West Midlands paint a deeply worrying picture.
Astonishingly, 55 crimes involving blades take place in the West Midlands every week.
That’s almost one stabbing every three hours.
Make no mistake, this is an epidemic of violence.
Whatever those in authority are doing to tackle knife crime, it is clearly not working.
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We appreciate the huge efforts of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson and Chief Constable Dave Thompson to address this issue.
Knife crime is clearly a problem that is not just confined to the West Midlands, it is nationwide.
However, while there is undoubtedly a need for better education as part of an all-round approach to the issue, there is one major missing element.
Where is the deterrent?
In this country, we have for too long adopted a half-hearted, soft approach to those who are convicted of carrying weapons.
To put it simply, anyone found in possession of a blade without good reason must know they will be sent to jail.
There must be no second or third chances, and no suspended sentences handed out from our courts.
Sajid Javid has the makings of an impressive Home Secretary, and appears to have far more about him than his appallingly bad and utterly clueless predecessor Amber Rudd.
Here is a man with the ambition and desire to make changes to our broken criminal justice system, but if he really wants to make his mark he needs to take steps to tackle the crime rate.
Chief among his priorities should be bringing in tougher sentences.
He must also address cuts to police budgets, which have been a national disgrace.
Not only that, but the treatment of working officers, who are already stretched to the limit, leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.
It is little wonder that many people believe the Conservative Party, which once prided itself on law and order, appears to have given up all hope of maintaining control.
This Government needs to do more to look after our brave police officers. Our forces in Staffordshire and the West Midlands need greater resources and more officers.
It is clear that knife crime is not a problem that can be solved by law enforcement alone.
We must all do our bit to fight this scourge.
Young people must be made to realise that if you carry a knife, there is a real chance that it could end up getting used against you.
Mr Javid also needs to urgently address the loophole in the law that allows high street shops to sell deadly long reach machetes and other vicious blades.
The E&S is campaigning for an outright ban on the sale of such weapons, which serve no other purpose than to threaten or inflict violence.
It is scandalous that shops are able to sell such weapons with what, at times, is only a cursory check on the buyer’s identification.
This week MPs from the region will meet with the Home Secretary to call for his backing for new legislation to close this loophole.
Until there is a change in the law, people will continue to suffer serious injury, and the death toll will continue to pile up.
The vast majority of people in this country realise that this is an issue that will not go away without urgent intervention.
Those in power simply have to act, and the time for action is now.
