Figures released by health minister Dawn Primarolo last week showchildren aged 17 or under needed hospital treatment 467 times in 1996/97after being shot. By 2006/07 this had dropped to 326, a fall of 30 percent.
In contrast, the number of children aged 17 or under who needed hospitaltreatment after being assaulted with a sharp object rose by 72 per cent,from 361 in 1996/97 to 620 in 2006/07.
Kevin Everard, co-founder of Be Safe, which runs weapons awarenessworkshops for young people, said: "It is much easier to legislate aboutfirearms because you can stop the source."
A Home Office spokesman said: "The government has undertaken a greatdeal of targeted action to tackle gang-related gun crime."
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