CYP Now - Tackling knife crime

If I were in charge of tackling knife crime, I'd put a halt to the stop and search laws. They aren't effective and they just further alienate young people. Young people think the police are out to get them and don't understand them, and this just seems a confirmation.

Knife crime is driven by a whirlwind of insecurity and fear. Young people feel they need to protect themselves and so buy a weapon, but stop and search won't change this. Neither will the numerous government appeals to young people.

Instead I would introduce more youth projects. Although they are costly, by providing young people with youth clubs and sports facilities, it gives them something to do and gets them away from the streets. I believe sport in particular can be used to channel aggression. Instead of postcode gangs, young people could compete in football teams against each other. This would hopefully lead to greater acceptance.

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