feature: Tackling knife crime
10 September 2008
Recent high-profile knife crime has created understandable fear in young people and their parents alike. But this sort of crime is still rare in Haringey, and local police and the council are tackling the problem.
For young people the answer is definitely not to get a knife yourself for protection.
If you have a knife in public you risk arrest, a £5,000 fine and a prison sentence of up to four years, whether you use it or not. And anyone carrying a knife stands a very high chance of having it used against them, according to police.
It’s also a criminal offence, not just a breach of school rules, to carry any weapon into school. Do this and you could end up with a four year prison sentence.
Cllr Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, says:
“Knife crime causes devastation and the needless loss of precious lives. In Haringey, the council and police are working hard to make young people feel safer and prevent them carrying a knife, even for self defence.
“The message is, you do not need to carry a knife. If you do you will most likely get caught, arrested and charged.”
Operation Blunt 2
In Haringey the likelihood of being caught if you carry a weapon is greater than ever before.
Operation Blunt 2 began across London in May, and since then Haringey police have been conducting spot searches with screening arches and wands, increased stop and search, and targeted operations against known violent offenders.
This is backed up with work with young people in schools and community work through the local safer neighbourhood teams.
- It is an offence to carry a knife in public without good reason or lawful authority.
- It is illegal for any shop to sell a knife of any kind (including cutlery and kitchen knives) to anyone under the age of 18. Haringey’s trading standards officers and police conduct regular checks and will prosecute.
Remember, in an emergency or if a crime is taking place, call 999.
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