Video: Teens suggest knife crime solutions

12:04pm Friday 27th June 2008

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LONG jail sentences for carrying a weapon would deter young people from carrying knives, according to teenagers.

Jimmy Mizen, aged 16, and Rob Knox, 18, were killed in May, focusing national attention on gang and knife culture.

News Shopper went to Dartford Grammar School in Shepherd's Lane to ask students how they think knife crime can be stopped.

"I think there needs to be tougher sentencing for even 16 to 18 year-olds for carrying a knife, such as long prison sentences," said 17-year-old Sarfraz Ali.

He said this would make people think twice before carrying a knife.

But 17-year-old Max Foreman said many young people carry a knife for protection.

He said: "There are a lot of areas where people do not feel safe going out without a knife. It makes them feel safer."

Fellow student 16-year-old Jemima Horsley Downie agreed, saying: "There is a lot of violence to young people across England so a lot of people do have quarms about going out at night, so carrying a knife makes them feel safer."

She felt the introduction of metal detectors at train stations and on buses would catch people carrying knives.

The students agreed that young people feel unsafe on the streets because of the number of gangs looking to cause violence.

They said young people join gangs and turn to violence because of boredom.

Ken Liu, aged 17, said: "Young people these days find they do not have much to do apart from hang around on the streets with their friends."

He said the Government should do more to provide activities for young people.

He said: "I think we need to tackle the problem of young people not having enough to do.

"More youth clubs and sport activities should be available to young people at night."

In the past five years 22 young people have been killed in the area covered by News Shopper.

On May 10 Jimmy Mizen was was murdered in a bakery shop in Burnt Ash Hill, Lee.

Rob Knox was killed in a fight outside the Metro bar in Sidcup on May 24.