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Kitchen knives most common stabbing weapon as police reveal haul of 200 weapons seized in blitz
dailymail.co.uk ^ | 05/29/08 | Daily Mail Reporter

Posted on 05/29/2008 4:47:15 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3

The most common knife used in teenage stabbings is taken from the kitchen, Sir Ian Blair has said.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner unveiled some of the deadly weapons seized during a two-week blitz on knife-carrying criminals at New Scotland Yard.

Sir Ian revealed that the majority of those weapons discovered on the streets of the capital were ordinary domestic knives.

He said more than 4,000 operations have been undertaken by his officers using arch metal detectors and handheld scanners.

As a result, more than 200 people have been arrested and almost 200 weapons have been seized.

Speaking hours after this year's teenage death toll in London reached 15, Sir Ian said youth violence has reached an unacceptable level.

More... Gruesome ad campaign showing bloody stab victims launched by Government to curb knife crime

He said: "The Met has stepped up its operations. With the support of the community, we have put search arches in place and in the last two weeks carried out more than 4,000 stop and search operations with more than 200 arrests and nearly 200 weapons seized.

"You are now more likely to be stopped and searched. If you are stopped and searched, you will be arrested if you are carrying a knife. If you are arrested you are likely to be prosecuted.

"To parents it is tough-love time. In addition to conversations about drink, drugs and relationships there are now conversations about knives.

200 knives have been seized by the police during Operation Blunt 2

"The most common knife involved in these deaths is a knife from the kitchen and we must have conversations about knife crime with teenagers."

In a report to the Metropolitan Police Authority today, Sir Ian said Operation Blunt, the name given to the anti-knife blitz, is targeting both where weapons are used and where those who use them live.

Sir Ian said officers have been deployed on 185 priority schools and colleges and each of the 59 units for excluded pupils across London. He revealed that the campaign will cost the Met up to £1million this year.

He said: "It is of critical importance that young people understand that carrying a knife is not cool and that choosing to carry a knife puts a young person at high risk of killing someone else, of being injured themselves and of going to prison.

"Ultimately, the aim is to encourage not only those whom young people respect and listen to to champion this approach, but also to find champions among young people themselves."

Operation Blunt is under way in every one of the 32 London boroughs, but extra resources are being sent to the 10 worst-hit areas including Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon.

Kit Malthouse, London deputy mayor responsible for crime, said he was "extremely pleased" with the police action.

He admitted increased stop-and-search operations could be controversial but he said officers had behaved "sensitively".

He said: "Some people out there oppose this type of operation but they come with no other type of solution.

"It is incumbent on us to recognise that every one of these knives recovered represents a tragedy averted and a life saved."

Kitchen knives are the most common weapons seized under the initiative

Mr Malthouse said that with every teenage death "a little bit of London dies too".

Cindy Butts, deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said Londoners must stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the police.

She said: "The black community supports Operation Blunt. What these communities want is increased stop and search.

"What they do not want is for police officers to go out on fishing expeditions where they cast their nets wide and see what they get back."

Ms Butts said the operation targeted places where knives were most likely to be carried and used. Officers deployed with metal detector arches and hand-held scanners targeted 10 London boroughs, including Southwark, Lambeth and Croydon.

She said: "It's important to emphasise that when the police get involved it is already too late."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: knives; operationblunt; police; scotlandyard
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To: TornadoAlley3

Operation Blunt is under way in every one of the 32 London boroughs, but extra resources are being sent to the 10 worst-hit areas including Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon.

Kit Malthouse, London deputy mayor responsible for crime, said he was “extremely pleased” with the police action.

He admitted increased stop-and-search operations could be controversial but he said officers had behaved “sensitively”.

He said: “Some people out there oppose this type of operation but they come with no other type of solution.

“It is incumbent on us to recognise that every one of these knives recovered represents a tragedy averted and a life saved.”

Kitchen knives are the most common weapons seized under the initiative

Mr Malthouse said that with every teenage death “a little bit of London dies too”.

Cindy Butts, deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said Londoners must stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the police.

She said: “The black community supports Operation Blunt. What these communities want is increased stop and search.


21 posted on 05/29/2008 5:09:25 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3 (Everytime McCain reaches out to conservatives, conservatives get poked in the eye.)
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To: 12Gauge687
How about hedge-trimmers?

I have three chain saws and two hedge trimmers, plus a weed eater. QUICK, SEND ME AWAY BEFORE I DO IT AGAIN!!

22 posted on 05/29/2008 5:17:31 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: LaineyDee; Sacajaweau; TornadoAlley3; Smokin' Joe

I eat my peas with honey.
I’ve done it all my life.
I know it may sound funny,
But it keeps them on my knife.


23 posted on 05/29/2008 5:19:08 AM PDT by LucyT
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To: TornadoAlley3
The once-great country of England would roll over and wet on itself if it saw the inch and a half Gerber pocket knife attached to my key chain. How sad.

Even sadder is the realization that there are idiots in this country who (if you could get them to admit it) would love to see the same and more.

24 posted on 05/29/2008 5:19:44 AM PDT by Pablo64 (What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

This nation won the Battle of Britian, how?


25 posted on 05/29/2008 5:20:07 AM PDT by em2vn
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To: Sacajaweau
What's next? Plainclothes Bobbies from the Public Safety Commission coming over to your flat and sanding all the sharp edges off the furniture?

Serioiusly, you can't have guns, you can't have knives, but if you even think "gee, the Bible that has been the cornerstone of Western Culture for two thousand years says homosexuality is a sin" and you get locked up for committing thoughtcrime?

26 posted on 05/29/2008 5:24:10 AM PDT by 50sDad (OBAMA: In your heart you know he's Wright.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

I thought it was the left who were supposed to be the sophists and idealists. Weapon control is the least desirable method of controlling violence out there as it takes away the basic tools people need to protect themselves and makes it easier for those who wish to commit violence to do so. If the aim is to stop violence, then go after the cause of violence. Look to the psychology and physiology involved, use training, parenting, coaching, mentoring and so on to achieve the goal. In extreme cases, using chemistry to change people might be what is called for. Going after the tools people use to commit violence is a losing battle as humans are limitless in their ability to devise them.


27 posted on 05/29/2008 5:26:16 AM PDT by contemplator (Capitalism gets no Rock Concerts)
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To: em2vn

spitballs


28 posted on 05/29/2008 5:26:58 AM PDT by miliantnutcase
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To: Humble Servant

An "assault" knife..............From my hot greasy hands!........

29 posted on 05/29/2008 5:27:45 AM PDT by Red Badger (NOBODY MOVE!!!!.......I dropped me brain............................)
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To: TornadoAlley3
Clearly the Brits need knife control. They should probably round up scissors also as they will be the next weapon of choice. Too bad some c list celebrity has to die for the cops to do something about violence in the streets. How about giving the kids some hope and a decent job?
30 posted on 05/29/2008 5:31:09 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Will this thread be jacked by a Mormon?)
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To: contemplator

go after the cause of violence

DITTO


31 posted on 05/29/2008 5:31:25 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3 (Everytime McCain reaches out to conservatives, conservatives get poked in the eye.)
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To: catman67

Next thing they will say we cannot have glass in our windows cause someone could break it and use it to hurt someone


32 posted on 05/29/2008 5:31:40 AM PDT by jrd
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To: TornadoAlley3

The Bread-Knife Ballad

A little child was sitting Up on her mother’s knee
And down down her cheeks the bitter tears did flow.
And as I sadly listened I heard this tender plea,
‘Twas uttered in a voice so soft and low.

“Not guilty” said the Jury And the Judge said “Set her free,
But remember it must not occur again.
And next time you must listen to you little daughter’s plea,”
Then all the Court did join in this refrain.

Chorus:
“Please Mother don’t stab Father with the BREAD-KNIFE,
Remember ‘twas a gift when you were wed.
But if you must stab Father with the BREAD-KNIFE,
Please Mother use another for the BREAD.”

-— Robert Service


33 posted on 05/29/2008 5:32:33 AM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (McCain will send a self-abused stomped elephant to the DRNC.)
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To: LucyT
Use the mashed 'taters instead...It doesn't taste so funny. (8^D)

Now British civilization's creativity will be challenged to come up with other handy, pointy-ended objects which can butter toast and poke ruffians...

34 posted on 05/29/2008 5:33:08 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: em2vn
This nation won the Battle of Britian, how?

I hate to tell ya, but from where I sit, I'm not seeing that Britain won.

35 posted on 05/29/2008 5:34:15 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Secondhand Aztlan Smoke causes drug addiction obesity in global warming cancer immigrant terrorists.)
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To: TornadoAlley3
OMG, if they burst in and search my kitchen, I'm dead meat.

[Little feral child]: "We're ALL dead meat" /obscure

36 posted on 05/29/2008 5:35:04 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Just because you're running for President doesn't mean that you are the center of the universe")
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To: DieHard the Hunter

sheet rock is what we call it here in the Great Satan.


37 posted on 05/29/2008 5:37:00 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Just because you're running for President doesn't mean that you are the center of the universe")
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To: DustyMoment

The problem lies not in the hands of the yobs, but in the hearts of the people.

They’ve rejected the concept of moral absolutes, because they are such enlightened, reasoned, educated people that they have no need for some set of behavior restrictions from some old superstition.

So, instead, the government has to step in and try to stop people from acting on their baser instincts by outlawing specific behaviors.

The less control a people have on their insides (morals), the more control is required on their outsides (gov’t/laws).


38 posted on 05/29/2008 5:38:39 AM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: TornadoAlley3

The Brits did not defeat the Nazis with these.

39 posted on 05/29/2008 5:42:58 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (Peace Is Not The Question.)
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To: NonValueAdded

> sheet rock is what we call it here in the Great Satan.

(big grin!) Here in the Wannabe-Satan it is mostly called “Gib Board”.

The short handsaws that they use to cut the stuff are disposable and extremely sharp, and cost about $10 each (or free if you are a teenage scroat and feel like shoplifting them). A very nasty weapon that leaves a really ugly wound that takes forever to heal and easily becomes infected.

The thing about these weapons (kitchen knives, saws, &tc) is that they are readily available and have perfectly-legitimate uses. Completely “ban-proof” (as if banning could ever fix it).

How to fix? Dunno.


40 posted on 05/29/2008 5:52:51 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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