Act now to end knife horror, say families of stabbing victims

John Reid and Met police chief Sir Ian Blair were facing new pressure over knife crime today as the families of London victims attacked their failure to curb stabbings.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, relatives of murdered teenagers claimed flaws in the criminal justice system were to blame for the growing menace of knives on the streets. Their criticisms, which follow similar complaints from rank-and-file police this week, will bolster calls for Mr Reid and Sir Ian to launch a new action plan to beat knife violence.

In evidence to the Metropolitan Police Authority yesterday, Sir Ian admitted knives were a serious threat. But he has otherwise remained silent since the fatal stabbings of Kodjo Yenga, 16, in Hammersmith on 14 March, and Adam Regis, 15, in Upton Park three days later.

Mr Reid has also failed to respond with any new initiatives, preferring to emphasise earlier reforms and the ongoing work of a government task force on the issue. The government has previously unveiled a series of new laws, including raising the legal age for buying knives to 18 from 16.

Today, however, victims' families called for longer sentences, a tougher prison regime and the increased use of stop-and-search powers. Others attacked the authorities' failure to tackle gang culture. There were widespread complaints about the justice system favouring "rights of criminals" over victims, and concerns that the law was "pandering" to offenders.

The families' verdict comes days after the Police Federation warned that many criminals carrying knives were escaping with cautions, or excessively lenient sentences, because of legal loopholes. The federation said new legislation was needed.

In Parliament, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have called for the introduction of longer jail sentences.

London politicians also want action. Cindy Butts, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Operation Trident Independent Advisory Group, said: "We need to get on top of this. There is a battle on the streets that needs to be fought.

"Young people see it as being safer to be in gangs than out and that is alarming."