Posted on 01/20/2003 5:22:55 AM PST by SJackson
Police have voiced fears about a growing knife culture in the North after a Sunday Sun investigation discovered the number of people carrying offensive weapons has rocketed.
Our findings come at the end of an eight-day period in which a North man was killed with a samurai sword, a policeman was stabbed to death in Manchester while arresting alleged terrorists.
Using available figures from police stop-and-search operations, we can reveal that in the last year incidents in the North have risen by over 30 per cent, from 609 to 795.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland police said: "We're aware that a knife-carrying culture has been developing in Cleveland.
"We have responded by specific targeting of our stop-and-search operations against the carrying of all offensive weapons.
"We are taking a very pro-active approach to this, hence the increase in the number of arrests."
It was in Middlesbrough that Robert Dunne, 31, was stabbed to death with a sword eight days ago.
The force has seen the biggest rise in arrests for possession of an offensive weapon over recent years from 145 in 1998 to 1999, to 251 in 2001 to 2002.
As our table shows, the Northumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire forces also saw rises.
The only area bucking the trend is Cumbria. It saw a steady fall from 148 arrests in 1998 to 1999, to 114 in 2001 to 2002.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Although we have seen a reduction this is still a very serious crime. We are not complacent."
Offensive weapons include things like baseball bats and hammers, but the vast majority of incidents concern the carrying of knives and swords.
Chief Inspector Laz Szomoru of Durham police, said: "The carrying of knives is extremely irresponsible."
And Chief Inspector David Jackson, of Northumbria Police, said: "Although some young people may think it's cool to carry a knife, it isn't."
The machine-gun killings of two Midlands teenagers has led to an increase in weapons hand-ed over to a North force.
Charlene Ellis, 18, and Latisha Shakespear , 17, were shot to death outside a New Year's party held in a Birmingham hairdressing salon.
Chief Inspector Norman Bowman of Northumbria Police said: "We believe that people who have been wanting to get rid of these weapons have been reminded to hand them in.
"We normally get around 30 weapons being handed in a week. But in the first few weeks after the Birmingham shootings we were averaging 40 odd a week."
The most common weapons handed in were air weapons and shotguns. But replica pistols and rare antique guns were also given to the police. Most were destroyed or used for training purposes.
Mr Bowman said: "If they are rare examples, then we keep them for our museum or hand them over to the Imperial War Museum.
"We are happy to take any weapon, not just guns, including knives, swords and even catapults."
Anyone wanting to dispose of an unwanted weapon should box or cover it and take it to the nearest police station.
If the weapon poses a danger if moved, then the police will arrange to collect it. Call Northumbria police on 01661-872555 for further advice.
Unmentioned is that the cop was stabbed with a kitchen knife IN THE SUSPECTS' HOME. Will they outlaw knives in kitchens?
Some of those weapons are very cranky, you know. You touch it and it shoots you or stabs you. The UK is a dangerous place to be.
Amazing. Are the Brits completely
Hurry, British subjects! Crouch down and lick the hands of those who take away your ability to defend your life, family, and liberty. Beg the powers that be to save you from the heinous temptation to defend your own from thugs. Make sure you cheer on the authorities as they imprison any who dare to defy the edicts of the benevolent government through self-defence. Prove what we in America have warned about for years. If you continue down this road we will witness the sun setting on, not the British Empire, but Britain herself. Forever.
They are close. It is illegal to carry a pocket knife in Britain. An "offensive weapon" is defined as anything with an edge or a point. I am not makeing this up! I read the article about the first victim, er offender, jailed for this offense (30 days) a few years ago. He use knives in his work and had a couple in his car.
This assumes the statement attributed to Chief Inspector Norman Bowman of Northumbria Police is true.
This is an example of "Islamofascist culture," not knife culture! It's pathetic when the media tries to blame Islamic terror on guns, but blaming it on knives is even sillier.
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