Comment: knife crime

Sixteen London teenagers have been knifed to death this year, the most recent victim, a young girl of 15 on Monday. Last year, 27 teenagers in London met violent deaths - compared with 17 in 2006. This paper is running a campaign to ensure that teenagers in the capital get greater protection from other young people who carry knives. It is, therefore, welcome that the Prime Minister has responded to public concern by insisting that youths, including 16 and 17-year-olds, who carry weapons should face a presumption of prosecution.

This is a necessary response to a growing problem. The overall number of victims of knife crime has, according to Met figures, fallen in the last year. Crucially, however, the number of 11 to 18-year-olds attacked with knives has risen over the same period. It is right, therefore, to target specifically the phenomenon of teenagers carrying knives. Plainly this change will not by itself be enough. There needs to be a more visible, active police presence on the estates blighted by knife crime and greater numbers of metal detectors and stations and clubs. But this is a good start.