An MPs' committee says a knife-crime "arms race" has developed...No, not some ’Crocodile Dundee’ style escalation in weaponry that would eventually see thugs wielding broadswords on the streets of Croydon, but more of a proliferation, with teenagers claiming to carry knives ‘because everyone else does’…
The Home Affairs Committee said knife carrying was driven by teenagers lacking faith in police and parents.Oh, really? I lack faith in the police and most modern parents too. Where’s my knife..?!
And guess what the answer is. No, go on, guess…
Did you guess ‘more money and resources for the target population’? If so, well done:
The MPs said knife crime plans should target complex root causes in deprived inner cities in England and Wales.Well, that’s never worked before, but hey, it’s only (taxpayers) money, after all…
Any more bright ideas for us?
They also called on the government to ban violent video games from secure units and young offender institutions.From those already locked up for violent offences? Stable door, horse, bolted….
I mean, I’d rather see them breaking rocks in the prison yard than hunched over an Xbox playing ‘Death Race 2000’ in their cells, just as a punishment, but as a prevention measure, it’s a little pointless, no?
Of course, each party then wheeled out their spokesman to counter the government’s dull recitation of meaningless stats on how well the tractor quotas were coming along in response.
First up, Call-Me-Dave’s man:
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "The committee is absolutely right to say that we need to tackle the root social causes of knife crime.Oooh, nicely done. A little bit of ‘Yes, well, ok…’ and then straight onto the ‘let’s crack down on the thugs!’ for the cheap seats, no doubt to be forgotten when Call-Me-Dave sweeps to power and it’s business as usual.
"But we've also got to be much tougher on those committing acts of anti-social behaviour to prevent them from going on to commit more serious offences, like knife crime, later in life."
While the Limp Dumbs fell back on their usual ‘a little from column A, a little from column B’ with an added dose of ‘let’s collect more stats!’:
And Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: "This report rightly suggests that knife crime is far too complicated a social problem to be solved with threats of prison alone.Perhaps we should put them online too, so we know where to avoid in future?
"We need to move away from political posturing towards what we know works to combat knife crime.
"The best place to start is to ensure that every hospital shares data with their local police force to map knife crime hot-spots and police them intensively."
Young offenders boot camps are the answer. Discipline, no playstations, no excuses, run by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who can't get jobs for various reasons.
ReplyDeleteIt's a combination of things - not least the police retreat from the streets, but also a cultural thing (i'll let you work out what culture and how). To a degree I can empathise with some kids who don't actually go out armed with knives with intent to do harm - they are genuinely there for protection, but it's a lose lose situation.
ReplyDeleteI also concur with Sue's idea - except I'd go a bit further. Not so much boot camp, but a full on "National Service" for two years for any offender over the age of 16 and a cadet system for any offender between 12 and 16.
...and on from those excellent suggestions, a three strikes and out policy for violent crime i.e. 15 years in the pokey. carrying a gun loaded or not in the commission of a crime - life i.e. until you die. Massive prison bulding programme to be commissioned, sentences to be served in full, rescind Human Rights legislation and a thorough arrest and deportation programme.
ReplyDeleteOh and the police to police - not pander to interest groups and stop social engineering. They could do worse than look backwards http://www.civitas.org.uk/pubs/policeNine.php
That'll do for starters
The chairman of the Home Affairs Committee is celebrated greaseball and crook [1], Keith Vaz. Yes he's still there, sucking at the taxpayers' teat and trying to please his boss. With this guy heading an influential Commons committee, is it any wonder that the public have nothing but contempt for its parliamentary representatives?
ReplyDelete[1] From the Telegraph quoted report "Mr Vaz also claimed twice for his food, utilities and cleaning bills in June 2007. He later repaid the money after the fees office pointed out his error [my italics]."
"Young offenders boot camps are the answer."
ReplyDeleteSadly, I can't see Call-Me-Dave's cuddly conservatism agreeing, but it sure would be welcome.
"I can empathise with some kids who don't actually go out armed with knives with intent to do harm..."
Me too. But the problem is, they are exactly the type who will have them taken off them and used on them.
Doesn't matter what weapon you have, you have to have the will to use it for it to be effective. Otherwise, you may as well wield a stick of celery for all the good it will do you...
"With this guy heading an influential Commons committee, is it any wonder that the public have nothing but contempt for its parliamentary representatives?"
You can't blame them, when this sort not only rise to the top, but stay there!
The MPs said knife crime plans should target complex root causes in deprived inner cities in England and Wales.
ReplyDeleteAsk my dentist. He is GOOD at root canal work.
Rip them out and bloody DESTROY the bastards is his motto.
You are all MUCH to soft.
The Brazilian and Chinese police know how to deal with scum on the streets.
Von Brandenburg-Preußen.
"But we've also got to be much tougher on those committing acts of anti-social behaviour to prevent them from going on to commit more serious offences, like knife crime, later in life."
ReplyDeleteWell considering 8 and 9 year old scum bags in England, and 6 and 7 year old arseholes in Scotland are carrying knives, and even guns then what age does this aresehole SUGGEST we start throwing them into prison to teach them a lesson "early" in life?
EXACTLY! He has not thought THAT one through, has he.
Von Brandenburg-Preußen.
A stick. A backside. mix them up six times. Cheap, easy, and quick.
ReplyDeleteThen, moving on from the MPs, we turn to the defendants...
good luck tomorrow, O my blogger chums - it's gonna be a doozy...