Time to question the values that guide society

As the Home Secretary commits herself to greater "harassment" of those suspected of knife and gun crime and the Prime Minister seeks to get back on the front foot through announcing another raft of policy initiatives, we may have missed the courageous and poignant lone voices calling out for another path. These came from the parents of Jimmy Mizen, stabbed by a shard of glass the day after his 16th birthday. The individual charged with his murder is just 19.

It is quite understandable when parents who experience such tragedy call out for retribution. It is almost the natural reaction and we should bear with it. It is equally understandable, but far less tolerable, when politicians leap on the bandwagon and fuel the fire of populist feeling seeking longer and tougher punishment. That may be part of a package to deal with the problem but, alone, it will not get us very far.