Knife crime needs public health strategy, says London police chief

The Guardian ^ | 1/6/18 | Mark Townsend

[aquila48]

The head of Scotland Yard has thrown her weight behind the idea that knife crime should be treated as a public health crisis rather than purely a crime.

Speaking to the London assembly, Cressida Dick argued that persistent levels of knife-related violence required a preventative program to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries from attacks.

Dick’s comments will be seen as a significant show of support from the UK’s most senior police officer for knife crime to be viewed through the “public health lens.”

Responding to a question on whether the Met was engaged in discussions about knife crime and public health, Dick said she was aware that most of those involved or prosecuted for knife crime had a troubled upbringing.

She said: “We are all committed to the notion that prevention is better than enforcement, which is, after all, the public health approach.

“[The majority of such offenders] are people who have suffered some kind of adverse experience of a significant sort when they are young and/or have limited or problematic family lives and parenting, all things that can lead to other negative outcomes and not just being subject to, or causing, serious violence to somebody.”

Her comments came only days before three fatal attacks on New Year’s Eve and a fourth on New Year’s Day, killings that pushed the total number of fatal stabbings last year in London to 80.

Sarah Jones, Labour MP for Croydon Central, and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime, said: “Any person of influence who suggests we start taking that approach is very welcome.

[Elsie]

‘Tis merely a flesh wound.

[Elsie]

Sling blade.

Or old lawnmower thingy...

[Elsie]

Officer: Ahoy there! What you carryin’ there; chap?
Citizen: This? Just the doodad from my mower that needs replaced. I’m on my way to the iron monger to get a new one.
Officer: Carry on...

[Chode]

and drain cleaner...