About us
See other news storiesOperation Blunt Two
14 May 2008
A huge police operation has been launched in London after several young people were killed in attacks involving knives.
Scotland Yard is calling the knife sweep Operation Blunt 2, and it involves stop-and-search teams in boroughs across the capital.
Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin told reporters police are doing 'something significant in tackling the issue of knives being carried in our communities.'
Stopping knife crime
The Home Secretary welcomed the operation, saying, 'I am determined to stamp out knife crime, wherever it occurs.
'By extending the presumption to prosecute people carrying knives, the Met is already taking firm action in London, where knife-enabled crime has dropped by 16% in the last year. But every incident is one too many.'
She said police and neighbourhood policing teams throughout London were working closely with local residents to deal with violent crime, and that sort of approach should ideally be adopted nationally.
Taking serious action to deal with serious crime
The government demonstrated how seriously it views knife possession when it doubled the maximum sentence for the offence. Those convicted of carrying an illegal knife now face four years in jail, rather than two.
It's clear that there's an ongoing trend for teenagers to carry knives, either to protect themselves or for street credibility. And carrying a knife makes it much more likely that a knife will be used in a moment of anger.
While overall knife crime has declined, high-profile cases make it apparent that the issue is not resolved, particularly among teenagers in urban areas.
We must educate young people of the risks of carrying knives. They need to know that knives are not defensive weapons, and that any knife you carry can easily be used against you.
Working closely across government
The Home Secretary said that she and Justice Minister Jack Straw will work with the criminal justice service in London to ensure that the use or possession of knives is taken into account when criminals are sentenced.
'I have spoken to the Mayor of London today on this issue, and we agree that we must be unfailing in our commitment to our communities and our young people to tackle these difficult issues,' she said
