Government announces plans to crack down on knife crime
New measures will attempt to reduce knife crime
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Monday, 18, Feb 2008 03:57
A new drive to reduce the amount of knife crime in the UK has been outlined today by the home secretary.
Jacqui Smith said there would be tougher sentences for knife crime and a presumption to prosecute people found carrying a knife.
Police will also be given 100 portable knife arches and 400 search wands immediately, with more promised in the coming year.
A £1 million campaign will attempt to challenge the 'glamour', fear and peer pressure that can drive youngsters to knife crime.
Ms Smith also announced measures to increase the number of sexual assault referral centres from 19 to 48 and a pilot aiming to give greater protection of children from sex offenders.
This scheme will be trialled in Cleveland, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire and Warwickshire and will allow certain people to find out information about child sex offenders.
This will include single mothers wanting to check on a potential partner's history.
"We are determined not to let violent offenders get away with wrecking lives by stopping them committing crimes in the first place," Ms Smith said.
"That is why I am today pledging that by 2011 we will have reduced serious violent crime, including gun and gang-related violence, knife crime, sexual and domestic violence, and improved the criminal justice response to these offences."
Keith Bristow, violent crime lead for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), welcomed today's announcement and said the police service is "committed" to building on anti-crime measures.
"We are encouraged to see the commitment by agencies other than the police in tackling violent crime," he added.
"This clearly recognises that dealing with violence is also an issue for partners and local communities and not just law enforcement."
Michelle Bernasconi from the Victims Advisory Panel said: "The Victims Advisory Panel has made a number of recommendations relating to support for victims and suggested that existing good practice be extended to cover more vulnerable victims of violent crime.
"We therefore welcome this action plan and strongly support the commitment to extend the use of multi-agency risk assessment conferences and to ensure that all areas of the country have specialist sexual assault referral centres."