Charity calls for more support for knife carriers

Crime Concern said it is important to help young people feel safe on the streets without a weapon, rather than threatening them with punitive actions.

Rosie Chadwick, director of prevention at the charity, said the current policy focus is on encouraging those who possess knives to hand them over during amnesties, with penalties covering selling or being in possession of a knife.

"While there is a place for enforcement, it won't work on its own because young people rarely think about the consequences of being caught carrying a knife," she said.

"So it's simply not enough to say, ‘don't carry knives'. We need to find creative ways to give young people the strategies, tactics and confidence to stay safe on the streets without relying on carrying weapons."

The government has announced a zero tolerance approach to knives, promising a crackdown in knife crime hot spots including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.